Compare towns
Eliot vs Lebanon vs Portsmouth vs Wilmot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Wilmot has the highest household income ($118k).
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 | Eliot | Lebanon | Portsmouth | Wilmot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
14,999 |
22,545Highest |
1,487Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
53±2.4Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Wilmot and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wilmot and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Wilmot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
$117,759±$15kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Wilmot and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$399,600±$43k 20% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
$1,869±$111 32% above U.S. |
$1,125±$289Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$8,149Highest 161% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
$6,651 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±41.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±3.8 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #29 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | 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 |
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.