Compare towns
Lebanon vs Portsmouth vs Enfield vs Hanover
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%).
Portsmouth has the oldest housing (typical home built 1959).
Enfield has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
Hanover has the highest household income ($170k).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Enfield | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
22,545Highest |
4,475Lowest |
11,685 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
-2.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
58.3±5.4Highest 35% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
7.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Lebanon and Hanover 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%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
30.7%±7.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Enfield and Portsmouth 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% |
43%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.7%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$95,474±$19kLowest 4% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
$390,800±$71k about the NH average |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$1,181±$563Lowest 21% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,149 22% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$6,203Lowest 7% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
17.8%±16.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover 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% NH: 7.2% |
16.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
51.9% NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 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 |
24 minHighest 11% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
11%±5.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover 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 | #5 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Portsmouth School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | Portsmouth High School | None in town | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
11.4 |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.