Compare towns
Lebanon vs Portsmouth vs Durham vs Dover
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 shortest commute (14 min average).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Dover has the most kids (16.9% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Portsmouth | Durham | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999Lowest |
22,545 |
15,080 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
| 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%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Dover 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% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 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% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
| Durham 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±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,607±$100 8% 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 |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham 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% |
6.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
51.9% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
23 minHighest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Portsmouth School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | Portsmouth High School | Oyster River High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
11.4Lowest |
12.3 |
12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.