Compare towns
Durham vs Portsmouth vs Plymouth vs Lebanon
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).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Portsmouth | Plymouth | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681 |
22,545Highest |
6,601Lowest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Lebanon 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% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lebanon and Portsmouth 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% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 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% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
54%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25kHighest 13% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
| Durham and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,744±$132 17% 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 | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±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% NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6% NH: 72.8% |
51.9% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 36% below NH |
22 minHighest 17% below NH |
18 min 31% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Portsmouth School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | — | Portsmouth High School | Plymouth Regional High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
11.7 |
| 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.