Compare towns
Lebanon vs Milford vs New Castle 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).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k median).
Portsmouth has the oldest housing (typical home built 1959).
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 | Milford | New Castle | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
16,337 |
827Lowest |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+3.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
62.8±6Highest 45% above NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±7.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.5% NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
0.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Lebanon and Milford 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 |
$97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average |
$176,953±$29kHighest 79% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$1,701,300±$267kHighest 323% above NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,661±$126Lowest 11% above NH |
$3,501Highest 135% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,149 22% above NH |
$7,522Lowest 13% above NH |
$8,509Highest 28% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
0%±85.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth and Milford 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% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
93%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
40.1%±19.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| New Castle 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 | #55 of 120 in NH | — | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Milford School District | New Castle School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | Milford High School | None in town | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— | 11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.