Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Newington vs Brookline
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).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | Newington | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,545Highest |
939Lowest |
5,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2 about the NH average |
48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Newington and Portsmouth 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% |
15.7%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Newington and Portsmouth 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% |
62.4% NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Newington 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 |
$145,833±$46k 47% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
| Brookline and Newington 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 |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
$544,400±$38kLowest 35% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111Lowest 25% above NH |
$2,292±$795 54% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
| Brookline and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,018 20% above NH |
$6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Newington 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% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline 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 | — | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | Newington School District | Brookline 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 |
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.