Compare towns

Portsmouth vs Newmarket vs White River Junction vs Rye

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Portsmouth has the oldest housing (typical home built 1959).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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.

MeasurePortsmouthNewmarketWhite River JunctionRye
People
Population
22,545Highest
9,463
3,364Lowest
5,611
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.9±2
10% above U.S.
41.2±1.9
6% above U.S.
33.7±3.2Lowest
13% below U.S.
55.1±3Highest
42% above U.S.
Kids under 18
14%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
15.6%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
17.1%±5
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Rye and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.9%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
16.1%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
12.5%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
31.7%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
64%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
49.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
38.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
61.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
5.6%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.2%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.2%±1.3
U.S.: 6.4%
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
32% above U.S.
$100,845±$13k
25% above U.S.
$77,168±$4kLowest
4% below U.S.
$140,655±$39kHighest
74% above U.S.
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
107% above U.S.
$455,000±$22k
37% above U.S.
$278,800±$78kLowest
16% below U.S.
$1,028,100±$89kHighest
209% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,869±$111Highest
32% above U.S.
$1,671±$69
18% above U.S.
$1,222±$216Lowest
14% below U.S.
$1,781±$156
26% above U.S.
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
157% above U.S.
$8,734Highest
180% above U.S.
$5,651Lowest
81% above U.S.
$7,519
141% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.4%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.3%±8.3
U.S.: 51.1%
42.9%±17.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.3%±16.1
U.S.: 51.1%
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
51.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
52.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
43.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1959Lowest
21 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
16% below U.S.
28 min
7% above U.S.
15 minLowest
42% below U.S.
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
Work from home
21.9%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
17.3%±3.3
U.S.: 15.1%
15.7%±5.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
30.9%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 — #2 of 120 in NH
School district Portsmouth School District Newmarket School District — Rye School District
High school in town Portsmouth High School Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.4Highest
9.9Lowest
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U.S. 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.