Compare towns
Durham vs Wilder vs Lebanon vs Portsmouth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Wilder | Lebanon | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681 |
3,087Lowest |
14,999 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
| Wilder 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 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Portsmouth 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
| 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 50% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211 8% below U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 35% below U.S. |
17 min 37% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #29 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | — | Lebanon School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school 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 |
U.S. 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.