Compare towns
Lebanon vs Hanover vs Plainfield 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Hanover has the highest household income ($170k).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Portsmouth has the oldest population (median age 42.9).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Plainfield | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
11,685 |
2,522Lowest |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
| Portsmouth and Lebanon 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% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 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% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Hanover and Plainfield 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 |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,674±$181Lowest 12% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,149 22% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,904Lowest 19% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover 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% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
22 minHighest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Plainfield School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | Hanover High School | None in town | 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.