What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lebanon	Portsmouth
People
Population	14,999Lowest	22,545Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH	42.9±2Highest about the NH average
	Portsmouth and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.6%±2.4Highest NH: 18.2%	14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Lebanon and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.4%±2.6Lowest 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%	64%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6%	3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%
	Lebanon and Portsmouth 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	$106,219±$7kHighest 7% above NH
	Portsmouth and Lebanon 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	$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,744±$132Lowest 17% 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	$8,018Lowest 20% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2%	50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2%
	Portsmouth and Lebanon 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%	6.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%	51.9%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH	1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	14 minLowest 48% below NH	22 minHighest 17% below NH
Work from home	22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8%	21.9%±4Lowest 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	#11 of 120 in NH
School district	Lebanon School District	Portsmouth School District
High school in town	Lebanon High School	Portsmouth High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Highest	11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.