Compare towns
Kensington vs Lebanon vs Portsmouth vs Rollinsford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Rollinsford has the most people working from home (25.9%).
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 | Kensington | Lebanon | Portsmouth | Rollinsford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
14,999 |
22,545Highest |
2,626 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
38.8±5.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Kensington and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±4.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Rollinsford and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±2.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.9 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+ | 48.5% NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest 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 | $165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$89,500±$26kLowest 10% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $657,700±$47k 63% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$398,100±$33k about the NH average |
| Portsmouth and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627 22% above NH |
$1,744±$132Lowest 17% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,809±$394 21% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,637Highest 45% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$6,851Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±26.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
51.9% NH: 72.8% |
78.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1966 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 7% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rollinsford 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 | — | #29 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | #94 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kensington School District | Lebanon School District | Portsmouth School District | Rollinsford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lebanon High School | Portsmouth High School | None in town |
| 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 |
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.