Compare towns
Dover vs Lebanon vs Lyme 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
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Lyme has the most homeowners (80.5%).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k 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 | Dover | Lebanon | Lyme | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
14,999 |
1,710Lowest |
22,545 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Lyme and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Lebanon and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% 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 | $8,249 24% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 15% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Lebanon 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH | — | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Lebanon School District | Lyme School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Lebanon High School | None in town | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
11.7 |
— | 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.