Compare towns
Lebanon vs Plymouth vs Plaistow 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).
Plaistow has the most homeowners (78.1%).
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 | Plaistow | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
6,601Lowest |
7,861 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
| Portsmouth and Plaistow 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% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Lebanon 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% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 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% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$108,317±$13kHighest 9% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Plaistow 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±$29k 4% below NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above 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 | $8,149Highest 22% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
$7,194 8% 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% |
55.3%±16.9Highest 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% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
18 min 31% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon and Portsmouth 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | Plymouth Regional High School | Timberlane Regional High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
12.8Highest |
11.4Lowest |
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.