Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Newbury vs Rye
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 the most renters (48.1% rent).
Newbury has the most affordable homes ($463k median).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Newbury | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,545Highest |
2,027Lowest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
53.3±3.6 23% above NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
| Rye and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Rye and Newbury 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% |
23.6%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
53%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
$116,477±$18k 18% above NH |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
| Rye and Newbury 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 |
$463,400±$36kLowest 15% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
— | $1,781±$156Lowest 19% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,018Highest 20% above NH |
$5,695Lowest 15% below NH |
$7,519 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
50%±24.1 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth and Newbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
20.1%±7.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Portsmouth 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 | — | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | — | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.