Compare towns
Lebanon vs Portsmouth vs Plymouth 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).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 22.8).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Plymouth is a college town. 42.5% 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 | Plymouth | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
22,545 |
4,969Lowest |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+6.1% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
22.8±0.9Lowest 47% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
13.3%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Lebanon and Keene 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%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
9.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 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% |
63.7% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
42.5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$106,219±$7kHighest 7% above NH |
$89,500±$32k 10% below NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Lebanon 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 |
$294,400±$28k 27% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,296±$295Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,342±$68 10% 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 | $8,149Highest 22% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$6,483Lowest about the NH average |
$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% |
31.8%±10.7Lowest 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% |
17%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2% NH: 72.8% |
51.9% NH: 72.8% |
50.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1971 8 yrs older than NH |
1961 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
22 minHighest 17% below NH |
16 min 39% below NH |
17 min 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
10.5%±4Lowest 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Portsmouth School District | — | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | Portsmouth High School | — | 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.