Compare towns
Lebanon vs Brattleboro 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
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Brattleboro has the most affordable homes ($257k median).
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 | Brattleboro | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,999 |
12,122Lowest |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.6±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
| Brattleboro and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
19%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Brattleboro and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brattleboro 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon and Brattleboro 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 22% above U.S. |
$58,241±$8kLowest 28% 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 | $385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$257,300±$18kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
$1,074±$58Lowest 24% 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 | $8,149Highest 161% above U.S. |
$5,700Lowest 83% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Portsmouth and Brattleboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.9%±4Lowest 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #33 of 70 in VT | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | Brattleboro Union High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
9.0Lowest |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.