Compare towns
Hanover 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
Hanover has the highest household income ($153k).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Portsmouth has the oldest population (median age 42.9).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% 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 | Hanover | Lebanon | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,479Lowest |
14,999 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
| Portsmouth and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 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+ | 17.6%±3.2Lowest 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+ | 89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,744±$132Lowest 17% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
51.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 29% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
22 minHighest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover 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 | #1 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 |
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.