Compare towns
Hartford vs Lebanon vs Newington 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
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Newington has the highest household income ($146k).
Portsmouth has the oldest housing (typical home built 1959).
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 | Hartford | Lebanon | Newington | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
14,999 |
939Lowest |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.7±10.1Highest 25% above U.S. |
42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
| Newington and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hartford and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±11Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newington and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$145,833±$46kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
| Newington and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39k 107% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
$1,869±$111 32% above U.S. |
| Newington and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$8,149Highest 161% above U.S. |
$6,081 95% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.9%±44Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newington and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 30% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 12% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest 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 | #34 of 70 in VT | #29 of 120 in NH | — | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hartford School District | Lebanon School District | Newington School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Lebanon High School | None in town | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
11.7Highest |
— | 11.4 |
| 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.