Compare towns
Lebanon vs Plaistow vs Hopkinton 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%).
Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Hopkinton has the highest household income ($137k).
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 | Plaistow | Hopkinton | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
7,861 |
6,037Lowest |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
45±2.8Highest 4% above NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Hopkinton 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% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.8%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Hopkinton 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% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.9%±4.2 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% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
58.2% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Hopkinton 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 |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$137,477±$21kHighest 39% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Hopkinton and Plaistow 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 |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$506,900±$54k 26% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,270±$129Lowest 15% below 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 |
$7,194Lowest 8% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow 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% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.5% NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1968 11 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Hopkinton 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #28 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Hopkinton School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | Timberlane Regional High School | Hopkinton High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
11.4Lowest |
12.0Highest |
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.