Compare towns
Lebanon vs Kensington vs White River Junction 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).
Kensington has the most homeowners (92.9%).
White River Junction has the most affordable homes ($279k 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 | Kensington | White River Junction | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
2,009Lowest |
3,364 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
43.3±5.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
| Kensington 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% |
17.1%±2.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon and Portsmouth 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. |
$165,083±$18kHighest 104% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$657,700±$47k 98% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
$1,813±$627 28% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Kensington 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. |
$9,637Highest 209% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Portsmouth and White River Junction 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% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
15 min 42% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest 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 | — | — | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Kensington School District | — | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | 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.