Compare towns
Lebanon vs Auburn vs Mont Vernon 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).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Mont Vernon has the most kids (22.1% 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 | Auburn | Mont Vernon | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
6,119 |
2,636Lowest |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
42.9±2.8 about the NH average |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Auburn and Mont Vernon 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% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
22.1%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Mont Vernon and Auburn 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% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±3.1 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+ | 57.5% NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
50.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
$158,036±$19kHighest 60% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Mont Vernon and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
$526,300±$39k 31% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,104±$185Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
| Auburn and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,149 22% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$9,432Highest 41% above NH |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Mont Vernon and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Mont Vernon and Auburn 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 | #44 of 120 in NH | #4 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Auburn School District | Mont Vernon School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | None in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School |
| 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.