Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Lyme vs Wilmot vs New Castle
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Portsmouth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Lyme has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
Wilmot has the most affordable homes ($400k median).
New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Portsmouth | Lyme | Wilmot | New Castle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,545Highest |
1,710 |
1,487 |
827Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+3.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
53±2.4 22% above NH |
62.8±6Highest 45% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±7.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Wilmot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
24.3%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| New Castle and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
58.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3%±3.4 NH: 6% |
0.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Portsmouth and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$117,759±$15k 19% above NH |
$176,953±$29kHighest 79% above NH |
| New Castle and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$399,600±$43kLowest about the NH average |
$1,701,300±$267kHighest 323% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,125±$289Lowest 25% below NH |
$3,501Highest 135% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,018 20% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,651Lowest about the NH average |
$8,509 28% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.1%±41.8 NH: 48.2% |
0%±85.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
83.4% NH: 72.8% |
93%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
40.1%±19.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| New Castle and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #11 of 120 in NH | — | — | — |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | Lyme School District | — | New Castle School District |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.