Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Newmarket vs Concord 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Concord has the most affordable homes ($351k median).
Rye has the most homeowners (85.5%).
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 | Newmarket | Concord | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,545 |
9,463 |
44,375Highest |
5,611Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2 about the NH average |
41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
40.7±1.3Lowest 6% below NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.2%±1.3 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Rye and Concord 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% |
16.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±1.5 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49.7% NH: 40.6% |
42.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
6%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Concord and Newmarket 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 |
$100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$84,902±$5kLowest 14% below NH |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
| Rye and Portsmouth 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 |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$350,900±$13kLowest 13% below NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,671±$69 12% above NH |
$1,441±$43Lowest 3% below NH |
$1,781±$156 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 | $8,018 20% above NH |
$8,734Highest 31% above NH |
$7,227Lowest 8% above NH |
$7,519 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth and Newmarket 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% |
4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
52.9% NH: 72.8% |
56.8% NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
23 min 14% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.8Lowest 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 | #39 of 120 in NH | #89 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | Newmarket School District | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Concord High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
9.9Lowest |
13.0Highest |
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| 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.