Compare towns
Lebanon vs Portsmouth vs Bedford
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 the most affordable homes ($385k median).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Bedford has the most homeowners (82.9%).
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 | Portsmouth | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,999Lowest |
22,545 |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
| Bedford 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% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1Lowest 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% |
63% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Lebanon and Bedford 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±$7k 7% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132Lowest 17% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
| Bedford 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 |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford 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% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
51.9% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
25 minHighest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Portsmouth School District | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | Portsmouth High School | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
11.4Lowest |
13.5Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.