Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Newfields vs Keene 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%).
Newfields has the most kids (18.9% under 18).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k 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 | Newfields | Keene | New Castle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,545 |
2,023 |
22,939Highest |
827Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2 about the NH average |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
62.8±6Highest 45% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±7.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64% NH: 40.6% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Keene and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$176,953±$29k 79% above NH |
| Newfields and New Castle 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 |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$1,701,300±$267kHighest 323% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$3,501Highest 135% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,018 20% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$8,509 28% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
0%±85.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth and Keene 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
93% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1961 18 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
40.1%±19.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| New Castle and Newfields 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 | — | #81 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | Newfields School District | Keene School District | New Castle School District |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 12.3Highest |
— |
| 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.