Compare towns
Hartford vs Lebanon vs Plymouth 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 kids (18% under 18).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% 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 | Hartford | Lebanon | Plymouth | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,736 |
14,999 |
6,601Lowest |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
24.6±3.4Lowest 37% below U.S. |
42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
| Hartford and Portsmouth 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% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Hartford and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
12%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford and Portsmouth 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% |
54% 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%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
33.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$77,027±$26kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$106,219±$7kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$292,400±$22kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
$1,108±$255Lowest 22% below 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 | $5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$8,149Highest 161% above U.S. |
$6,288 102% 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%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Portsmouth and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3% 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. |
1981Highest 1 yr 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. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hartford School District | Lebanon School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | Lebanon High School | Plymouth Regional High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
11.7 |
12.8Highest |
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.