The story of this market
The typical home in ZIP 03854 sells for about $2,463,636, or $775 per square foot.
Prices are up +2.1% from a year ago, so sellers still have some momentum. Homes take about 45 days to sell. HUD's fair market rent for a two-bedroom is $3,501 a month.
ZIP 03854 — New Castle
The New Castle housing market remains highly exclusive with extremely low inventory and high price points, reflecting its status as a premier coastal enclave. Prices have shown steady year-over-year growth, driven by limited supply and sustained demand from high-net-worth buyers. Market activity is stable, with properties spending a moderate amount of time on the market despite the high price floor.
This ZIP is ideal for affluent professionals, retirees, and luxury buyers seeking a quiet, historic coastal lifestyle with proximity to Portsmouth's amenities.
Median prices moved up 2.1% year over year.
Homes spend a median of 45 days on market with 6.0 months of supply — a balanced-paced market.
15% of listings have cut prices · homes sell at 98.5% of asking — demand is running ahead of supply.
no recorded foreclosure-ledger notices (0.0 per 10,000 residents) · unemployment 0.0% · poverty 4.6% — a stable, low-distress profile.
Researched annual trajectory for this ZIP, from published historical series
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 8.8%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
Median annual property tax paid on this ZIP's residential parcels
Solid: researched ten-year history · dotted: 1 / 3 / 5-year projection extended from the historical 8.3%/yr trend — a deterministic estimate, not a published forecast or guarantee.
versus the prior ACS vintage
net influx — more people moved in than out
ZCTA 03854, Rockingham County NH
New Castle is a small, affluent coastal community with very low reported crime rates, significantly lower than the regional average for the Manchester-Nashua metropolitan area.
Public schools serving the area are part of the SAU 50 district, which is highly regarded for its academic performance and small class sizes.
The area faces coastal flood risks due to its location on the Atlantic and Piscataqua River, requiring specialized flood insurance coverage for many properties.
Economic momentum is driven by proximity to Portsmouth's professional services and the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, with limited new residential development due to geographic constraints.
Property taxes are assessed at the municipal level by the Town of New Castle, which relies heavily on local property tax revenue to fund town services and the school district.
Commuting is primarily car-dependent, with a short drive to downtown Portsmouth and easy access to I-95 for travel toward the Boston or Manchester employment hubs.
The area features extensive coastal access, including Great Island Common and Fort Stark State Historic Site, with high-end shopping and dining available in nearby Portsmouth.
The rental market is extremely tight with very low vacancy rates, primarily consisting of high-end single-family homes and limited seasonal rentals.
The local economy is anchored by the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and the broader Portsmouth professional, tourism, and hospitality sectors.
Public transit is limited; residents rely on private vehicles for regional connectivity via I-95 and NH-1B.
Development is strictly limited by the town's historic preservation ordinances and geographic isolation as an island community.
Parcels are subject to local municipal taxes and the SAU 50 school district levy.
High demand for coastal property insurance due to flood and storm surge exposure, with premiums trending upward.
Data retrieved from data.census.gov ZCTA 03854 profile.
Public schools whose reported address is in this area (NCES). Not attendance boundaries — schools that serve residents may sit outside it. Check the district's address locator for assignment.
- Water Country Water Park4.13.9 mi
- Wonder Mountain Fun Park4.316.2 mi
- Hilltop Fun Center4.415.4 mi
- Bowl-O-Rama Family Fun Center4.43 mi
- Portsmouth Escape Room4.83 mi
- Cider Hill Farm4.716.8 mi
- The Brook4.215 mi
- Wentworth By The Sea4.40.8 mi
- New England Dragway4.816.2 mi
- Roundabout Diner and Lounge4.43.5 mi
- Water Country Water Park4.13.9 mi
- Hampton Beach State Park4.612.3 mi
- Strawbery Banke Museum4.72.4 mi
- Seacoast Science Center4.61.1 mi
- Prescott Park4.72.3 mi
- Nubble Lighthouse4.99.4 mi
- Strawbery Banke Museum4.72.4 mi
- Seacoast Science Center4.61.1 mi
- Children's Museum of New Hampshire4.712.3 mi
- Lobster Point Lighthouse4.614 mi
- Hampton Beach State Park4.612.3 mi
- Seacoast Science Center4.61.1 mi
- Prescott Park4.72.3 mi
- Odiorne Point State Park4.71.2 mi
- Fort Foster4.71.1 mi
- Great Bay Marine Inc4.57.3 mi
- Safe Harbor Wentworth By The Sea4.60.8 mi
- Breakfast Hill Golf Club4.46.3 mi
- Pease Golf Course4.45.2 mi
- Sagamore-Hampton Golf Club4.28.1 mi
- Ledges Golf Club4.19.1 mi
- Wentworth By The Sea Country Club4.71.3 mi
- Kittery Premium Outlets4.33.9 mi
- Applecrest Farm Orchards4.512.6 mi
- Tendercrop Farm at the Red Barn4.69.9 mi
- McKinnon's Market & Super Butcher Shop Portsmouth, N.H.4.64.1 mi
- The Kittery Outlets4.33.7 mi
- Portsmouth International Airport4.65.5 mi
Theme parks, venues, golf, airports, museums, water and shopping across the area from Google Maps, ranked by popularity within the radius shown.
A scenic waterfront park with picnic areas and views of the Atlantic.
A coastal fortification offering walking trails and historical significance.
Key-figure check: no independent anchor retained yet — first-researched cycles establish the anchor baseline this pass.