Compare towns
Lebanon vs Portsmouth vs Holderness vs Keene
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 most expensive homes ($689k median).
Holderness has the most homeowners (83.7%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k 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.
| Measure | Lebanon | Portsmouth | Holderness | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
22,545 |
1,917Lowest |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Holderness 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% |
14.7%±9.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Holderness 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%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.5% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
55.7% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$107,863±$45kHighest 9% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Holderness 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 |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$363,100±$60k 10% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
| Holderness and Portsmouth 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 |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth and Keene 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% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
51.9% NH: 72.8% |
83.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% 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 |
1961 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
17 min 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 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 | — | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Portsmouth School District | Holderness School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | Portsmouth High School | None in town | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
11.4Lowest |
— | 12.3Highest |
| 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.