Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Newmarket vs New Castle 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 the shortest commute (22 min average).
Newmarket has the most affordable homes ($455k median).
New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k median).
Rye has the most kids (18.2% 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 | Newmarket | New Castle | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,545Highest |
9,463 |
827Lowest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+3.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2 about the NH average |
41.2±1.9Lowest 5% below NH |
62.8±6Highest 45% above NH |
55.1±3 27% above NH |
| New Castle and Rye 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% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±7.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Rye 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% |
16.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
| New Castle and Rye 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% |
49.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Newmarket and Portsmouth 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±$13kLowest about the NH average |
$176,953±$29kHighest 79% above NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
| New Castle 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 |
$455,000±$22kLowest 13% above NH |
$1,701,300±$267kHighest 323% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89k 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$1,671±$69Lowest 12% above NH |
$3,501Highest 135% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,018 20% above NH |
$8,734Highest 31% above NH |
$8,509 28% above NH |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
0%±85.7Lowest 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% |
4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
52.9% NH: 72.8% |
93%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 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 |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
40.1%±19.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
| New Castle and Rye 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 | — | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | Newmarket School District | New Castle School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | None in town | 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.