Compare towns
Lebanon vs Lee vs Portsmouth vs White River Junction
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).
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
White River Junction has the most affordable homes ($279k 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 | Portsmouth | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
4,576 |
22,545Highest |
3,364Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
42.9±1.9Highest 10% above U.S. |
42.9±2Highest 10% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Lee and White River Junction 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% |
22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon and Lee 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. |
$131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| 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 16% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61k 44% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
— | $1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,149 161% above U.S. |
$9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 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% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
15 min 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Oyster River Coop 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 | 10 photos → | 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.