Compare towns
Lebanon vs Madbury vs Brentwood 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 the shortest commute (14 min average).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Brentwood has the most homeowners (96%).
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 | Madbury | Brentwood | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
2,203Lowest |
4,641 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
43.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Brentwood 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 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Brentwood 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% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Brentwood 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% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
49%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| 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±$10kLowest about the NH average |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Brentwood and Madbury 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 |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$528,100±$75k 31% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
$2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
| Brentwood and Portsmouth 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,713 46% above NH |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Brentwood 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% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Brentwood 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 | — | #16 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Brentwood School District | 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 | 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.