Compare towns
Lebanon vs Mont Vernon vs Madbury 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).
Mont Vernon has the most people working from home (26.6%).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
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 | Mont Vernon | Madbury | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
2,636 |
2,203Lowest |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.3% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
42.9±2.8Highest about the NH average |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
22.1%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Mont Vernon 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% |
15.6%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
50.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Lebanon and Mont Vernon 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 |
$158,036±$19kHighest 60% above NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Mont Vernon 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 |
$526,300±$39k 31% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,104±$185Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,574±$759 6% 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 |
$9,432 41% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Mont Vernon 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% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Mont Vernon 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 | #4 of 120 in NH | — | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Mont Vernon School District | Oyster River Coop 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 | 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.