Compare towns
Weare vs Newington vs Portsmouth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Weare has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Newington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
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 | Weare | Newington | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,170 |
939Lowest |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4 5% above NH |
48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
| Newington and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.7%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Newington and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.4% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Weare and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,271±$17k 19% above NH |
$145,833±$46kHighest 47% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
| Newington and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214Lowest 3% above NH |
$2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
| Newington and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,272 6% below NH |
$6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
$8,018Highest 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Newington and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Weare 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 | #84 of 120 in NH | — | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Newington School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | None in town | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | 11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.