Compare towns

Lebanon vs Portsmouth vs Mont Vernon

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).
Mont Vernon has the most homeowners (95.9%).

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.

MeasureLebanonPortsmouthMont Vernon
People
Population
14,999
22,545Highest
2,636Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.6%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+5.7%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+7.3%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
38.9±3.1Lowest
10% below NH
42.9±2Highest
about the NH average
42.9±2.8Highest
about the NH average
Kids under 18
14.6%±2.4
NH: 18.2%
14%±1.9Lowest
NH: 18.2%
22.1%±3.8Highest
NH: 18.2%
Age 65+
21.4%±2.6
NH: 20.1%
21.9%±2.4Highest
NH: 20.1%
15.6%±3.1Lowest
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%
NH: 40.6%
64%Highest
NH: 40.6%
50.8%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±2.6Highest
NH: 6%
3.8%±1.2Lowest
NH: 6%
6.1%±2.8
NH: 6%
Lebanon and Mont Vernon 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
$158,036±$19kHighest
60% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$385,400±$29kLowest
4% below NH
$688,500±$39kHighest
71% above NH
$526,300±$39k
31% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,744±$132
17% above NH
$1,869±$111Highest
25% above NH
$1,104±$185Lowest
26% below 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
$9,432Highest
41% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.9%±7.2Lowest
NH: 48.2%
50.4%±7.2
NH: 48.2%
51.4%±80.8Highest
NH: 48.2%
Mont Vernon 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%
4.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
51.2%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
51.9%
NH: 72.8%
95.9%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
1 yr newer than NH
1959Lowest
20 yrs older than NH
1978
1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
14 minLowest
48% below NH
22 min
17% below NH
30 minHighest
12% above NH
Work from home
22.8%±4.3
NH: 16.8%
21.9%±4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
26.6%±6.6Highest
NH: 16.8%
Mont Vernon 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 #4 of 120 in NH
School district Lebanon School District Portsmouth School District Mont Vernon School District
High school in town Lebanon High School Portsmouth High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.7Highest
11.4Lowest
—
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.