Compare towns
Lebanon vs Portsmouth vs Lyme vs Hartford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Lyme has the highest household income ($134k).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k 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 | Lyme | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
22,545Highest |
1,710Lowest |
10,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
64% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,149 161% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 16% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme 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 | — | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Portsmouth School District | Lyme School District | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | Portsmouth High School | None in town | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
11.4 |
— | 9.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.