Compare towns
Lebanon vs Portsmouth vs Mont Vernon vs White River Junction
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).
Mont Vernon has the most homeowners (95.9%).
White River Junction has the most affordable homes ($279k 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 | Mont Vernon | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
22,545Highest |
2,636Lowest |
3,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
42.9±2Highest 10% above U.S. |
42.9±2.8Highest 10% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.1%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Mont Vernon and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%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% |
6.1%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
$158,036±$19kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$526,300±$39k 58% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,104±$185Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216 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. |
$9,432Highest 202% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% 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% |
51.4%±80.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
15 min 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | 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.