Compare towns
Lebanon vs Lee vs Manchester 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%).
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
Manchester has the most affordable homes ($366k 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 | Lee | Manchester | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
4,576Lowest |
115,643Highest |
22,545 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
38±1Lowest 12% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18%±1 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Manchester 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% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee 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% NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lebanon and Manchester 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 about the NH average |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Lee and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$365,600±$7kLowest 9% below NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 17% above NH |
— | $1,564±$37Lowest 5% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Lebanon 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 |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
51.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1966 13 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
24 min 10% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #115 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | None in town | Manchester Memorial High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
— | 14.3Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 6 photos → | 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.