Compare towns
Durham vs Auburn vs Lebanon 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
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Lebanon has the most affordable homes ($385k median).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Durham | Auburn | Lebanon | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681 |
6,119Lowest |
14,999 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Auburn and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Auburn and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
| Auburn and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
51.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 36% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Auburn School District | Lebanon School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Lebanon High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.7Highest |
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.