Compare towns
Lebanon vs Plymouth vs Newfields 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%).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Plymouth | Newfields | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
6,601 |
2,023Lowest |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
44.1±1.8Highest about the NH average |
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% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9 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% |
54%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
| Newfields and Portsmouth 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 |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
18 min 31% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | — | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Newfields School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | Plymouth Regional High School | None in town | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
12.8Highest |
— | 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.