Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Stratham vs Newfields vs Kittery
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 most renters (48.1% rent).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Kittery has the most affordable homes ($469k 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 | Stratham | Newfields | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,545Highest |
7,754 |
2,023Lowest |
10,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Kittery and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Newfields 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% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kittery and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Kittery 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. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111 32% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Newfields 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. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | — | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Newfields School District | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy |
| 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 |
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.