Compare towns
Lebanon vs Portsmouth vs Stratham vs Wilder
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).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Stratham | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
22,545Highest |
7,754 |
3,087Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Wilder and Portsmouth 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%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Lebanon 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. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Stratham 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±$111 32% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,149 161% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
17 min 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Portsmouth School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham 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.