Compare towns
Ashland vs Lebanon vs Plymouth 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
Ashland has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Ashland | Lebanon | Plymouth | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,183Lowest |
14,999 |
6,601 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
| Portsmouth and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$77,027±$26k 22% below NH |
$106,219±$7kHighest 7% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$292,400±$22k 27% below NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,108±$255 26% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$8,149Highest 22% above NH |
$6,288 6% below NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
18.6% NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
51.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 4% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
18 min 31% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon 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 | — | #29 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ashland School District | Lebanon School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lebanon High School | Plymouth Regional High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7 |
12.8Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.