Compare towns

Portsmouth vs Newington vs Newmarket 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 the shortest commute (22 min average).
Newington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Newmarket has the most affordable homes ($455k 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.

MeasurePortsmouthNewingtonNewmarketNew Castle
People
Population
22,545Highest
939
9,463
827Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.7%
NH: +4.6%
+7.7%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+5.5%
NH: +4.6%
+3.3%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
42.9±2
about the NH average
48.7±10.1
12% above NH
41.2±1.9Lowest
5% below NH
62.8±6Highest
45% above NH
New Castle and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14%±1.9
NH: 18.2%
15.7%±4.9Highest
NH: 18.2%
15.6%±2.7
NH: 18.2%
12.9%±7.1Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Newington and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.9%±2.4
NH: 20.1%
28%±11
NH: 20.1%
16.1%±2.8Lowest
NH: 20.1%
44.3%±16.1Highest
NH: 20.1%
New Castle and Newington 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%
62.4%
NH: 40.6%
49.7%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
68.8%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1.2
NH: 6%
3.9%±1.8
NH: 6%
5.6%±1.9Highest
NH: 6%
0.6%±1.8Lowest
NH: 6%
Newmarket 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±$7k
7% above NH
$145,833±$46k
47% above NH
$100,845±$13kLowest
about the NH average
$176,953±$29kHighest
79% above NH
New Castle 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±$46k
114% above NH
$455,000±$22kLowest
13% above NH
$1,701,300±$267kHighest
323% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,869±$111
25% above NH
$2,292±$795
54% above NH
$1,671±$69Lowest
12% above NH
$3,501Highest
135% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,018
20% above NH
$6,081Lowest
9% below NH
$8,734Highest
31% above NH
$8,509
28% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.4%±7.2
NH: 48.2%
62.9%±44Highest
NH: 48.2%
46.3%±8.3
NH: 48.2%
0%±85.7Lowest
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%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
4.6%
NH: 7.2%
4.6%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
51.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
86.9%
NH: 72.8%
52.9%
NH: 72.8%
93%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1959Lowest
20 yrs older than NH
1984Highest
5 yrs newer than NH
1983
4 yrs newer than NH
1975
4 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 minLowest
17% below NH
23 min
13% below NH
28 min
6% above NH
33 minHighest
22% above NH
Work from home
21.9%±4
NH: 16.8%
8%±2.4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
17.3%±3.3
NH: 16.8%
40.1%±19.4Highest
NH: 16.8%
New Castle 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 — #39 of 120 in NH —
School district Portsmouth School District Newington School District Newmarket School District New Castle School District
High school in town Portsmouth High School None in town Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4Highest
—
9.9Lowest
—
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.