Compare towns
Lebanon vs Ashland vs Milford 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
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Lebanon | Ashland | Milford | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
2,183Lowest |
16,337 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
42.3±11.2 about the NH average |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
| Portsmouth and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.5% NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.2% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Lebanon and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$97,768±$14k 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 | $385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,661±$126 11% 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 | $8,149Highest 22% above NH |
$4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$7,522 13% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.1% NH: 72.8% |
64.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | — | #55 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Ashland School District | Milford School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | None in town | Milford High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
11.4 |
| 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.