Compare towns
Hillsborough 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
Hillsborough has the most homeowners (92.3%).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
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 | Hillsborough | Lebanon | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,980Lowest |
14,999 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
| Portsmouth and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hillsborough and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±3.9Lowest 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+ | 23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| 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 | $84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$106,219±$7kHighest 7% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
$8,149Highest 22% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Hillsborough and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.3%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 | 41 minHighest 54% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #97 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Lebanon School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Lebanon High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
11.7Highest |
11.4 |
| 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.