Compare towns
Lebanon vs Newmarket vs Portsmouth vs Rye
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%).
Portsmouth has the oldest housing (typical home built 1959).
Rye has the most homeowners (85.5%).
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 | Newmarket | Portsmouth | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
9,463 |
22,545Highest |
5,611Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Rye and Newmarket 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% |
16.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.5% NH: 40.6% |
49.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lebanon and Newmarket 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 |
$100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
| Rye and Portsmouth 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 |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,671±$69Lowest 12% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Rye 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 |
$8,734Highest 31% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth and Newmarket 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
52.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.9% NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye 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 | #39 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Newmarket School District | Portsmouth School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Portsmouth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
9.9Lowest |
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.