Compare towns
Lebanon vs Deerfield vs Brookline 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).
Deerfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Brookline has the highest household income ($171k).
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 | Deerfield | Brookline | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
4,932Lowest |
5,736 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+13% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
42.8±4.2 about the NH average |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
| Portsmouth and Deerfield 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% |
20.9%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Deerfield 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% |
17.5%±3.5 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest 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% |
47.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Lebanon and Brookline 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 |
$131,563±$10k 33% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$421,000±$33k 5% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,593±$318Lowest 7% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
| Brookline 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 |
$7,369Lowest 11% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest 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 | 7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
34 minHighest 28% above NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.4%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline 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 | #61 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Deerfield School District | Brookline 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.