Compare towns
Lebanon vs Newfields vs Stratham 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% 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 | Newfields | Stratham | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
2,023Lowest |
7,754 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
44.1±1.8Highest about the NH average |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Newfields 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% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Newfields 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Lebanon 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 |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132Lowest 17% above NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
| Stratham and Newfields 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 |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
51.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields and Stratham 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 | — | #43 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Newfields School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham 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.