Compare towns
South Hampton vs Wilmot vs Portsmouth vs Newton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Wilmot has the most affordable homes ($400k median).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Newton has the most homeowners (90.1%).
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 | South Hampton | Wilmot | Portsmouth | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 984Lowest |
1,487 |
22,545Highest |
4,836 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
53±2.4Highest 22% above NH |
42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
47.8±5.7 10% above NH |
| Wilmot and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Wilmot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.4 NH: 20.1% |
24.3%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
16%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Wilmot and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4% NH: 40.6% |
58.7% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3%±3.4 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Newton and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
$117,759±$15k 19% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
$138,487±$29k 40% above NH |
| South Hampton and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,100±$45k 64% above NH |
$399,600±$43kLowest about the NH average |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$459,500±$18k 14% above NH |
| Portsmouth and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
$1,125±$289Lowest 25% below NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$1,683±$96 13% above NH |
| South Hampton and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,109Highest 37% above NH |
$6,651Lowest about the NH average |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$8,124 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.1%±41.8 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
62%±41.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Newton and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% NH: 72.8% |
83.4% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth and Wilmot 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 | #70 of 120 in NH |
| School district | South Hampton School District | — | Portsmouth School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Portsmouth High School | 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.