Compare towns
Lebanon vs Henniker vs Eliot 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 the shortest commute (14 min average).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Eliot has the most homeowners (79.8%).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Henniker is a college town. 27% 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 | Henniker | Eliot | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
6,197Lowest |
7,146 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
31.1±6.1Lowest 20% below U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
| Eliot 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% |
15.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Eliot and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot 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% |
41.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
27%±6.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$95,206±$21kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Eliot 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. |
$356,700±$49kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
$1,081±$164Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,869±$111 32% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,149 161% above U.S. |
$8,877Highest 185% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±22.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Portsmouth 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% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 15% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 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 | #56 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Henniker School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | 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 |
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.