Compare towns
Lebanon vs New Castle vs Portsmouth vs Wilmot
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%).
New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k median).
Portsmouth has the oldest housing (typical home built 1959).
Wilmot has the most kids (17.1% under 18).
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 | New Castle | Portsmouth | Wilmot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
827Lowest |
22,545Highest |
1,487 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
62.8±6Highest 45% above NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
53±2.4 22% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±7.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±3.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Wilmot and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
24.3%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
| New Castle and Wilmot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
58.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3%±3.4 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 |
$176,953±$29kHighest 79% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$117,759±$15k 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$1,701,300±$267kHighest 323% above NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
$399,600±$43k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$3,501Highest 135% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$1,125±$289Lowest 25% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,149 22% above NH |
$8,509Highest 28% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$6,651Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
0%±85.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.1%±41.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth and Lebanon 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% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
2.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9% NH: 72.8% |
83.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
40.1%±19.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest 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 | — | #11 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lebanon School District | New Castle 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 | 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.