Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Rye vs New Castle vs Newington
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 most renters (48.1% rent).
Rye has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k median).
Newington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
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 | Rye | New Castle | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,545Highest |
5,611 |
827Lowest |
939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+3.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
55.1±3 27% above NH |
62.8±6Highest 45% above NH |
48.7±10.1 12% 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% |
18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±7.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.7%±4.9 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%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
28%±11 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% |
61.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
62.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
0.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Newington 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±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$176,953±$29kHighest 79% above NH |
$145,833±$46k 47% 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±$39kLowest 71% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89k 155% above NH |
$1,701,300±$267kHighest 323% above NH |
$861,600±$46k 114% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$1,781±$156Lowest 19% above NH |
$3,501Highest 135% above NH |
$2,292±$795 54% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,018 20% above NH |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$8,509Highest 28% above NH |
$6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
0%±85.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44Highest 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% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
93%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
40.1%±19.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | Rye School District | New Castle School District | Newington School District |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | — | — |
| 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.