Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Newington vs Rye vs Newmarket
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%).
Rye has the most people working from home (30.9%).
Newmarket has the most affordable homes ($455k 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 | Newington | Rye | Newmarket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,545Highest |
939Lowest |
5,611 |
9,463 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+7.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2 about the NH average |
48.7±10.1 12% above NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
41.2±1.9Lowest 5% below NH |
| Rye and Newington 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% |
18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Rye and Newington 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Rye 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
62.4% NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
49.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest 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±$46kHighest 47% above NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$100,845±$13kLowest about the NH average |
| Newington and Rye 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 |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$455,000±$22kLowest 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,671±$69Lowest 12% above NH |
| Newington and Portsmouth 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 |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$8,734Highest 31% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 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% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
52.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 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 | #39 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | Newington School District | Rye School District | Newmarket School District |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town | None in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School |
| 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.