Compare towns

Lebanon vs Portsmouth vs Wilder 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).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Hartford has the most kids (18% under 18).

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.

MeasureLebanonPortsmouthWilderHartford
People
Population
14,999
22,545Highest
3,087Lowest
10,736
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+81.7%Highest
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.
45.5±8.9Highest
17% above U.S.
43.2±3.9
11% above U.S.
Wilder 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%±1.9
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18%±3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Hartford and Lebanon 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%
27.3%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.5%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Wilder 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%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
60.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
47.6%Lowest
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%
8.1%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±1.7
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±$7kHighest
32% above U.S.
$75,143±$9kLowest
7% below U.S.
$78,125±$7k
3% below U.S.
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
16% above U.S.
$688,500±$39kHighest
107% above U.S.
$273,200±$18kLowest
18% below U.S.
$304,500±$26k
8% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,744±$132
23% above U.S.
$1,869±$111Highest
32% above U.S.
$1,142±$451Lowest
19% below U.S.
$1,218±$118
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
$8,149Highest
161% above U.S.
$8,018
157% above U.S.
$5,505Lowest
76% above U.S.
$5,773
85% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.9%±7.2
U.S.: 51.1%
50.4%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.9%±17.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±12.7
U.S.: 51.1%
Portsmouth and Hartford 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%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.3%
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%
62.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1959Lowest
21 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer 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.
17 min
37% below U.S.
18 min
30% below U.S.
Work from home
22.8%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
12.6%±6.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.9%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
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 — #34 of 70 in VT
School district Lebanon School District Portsmouth School District — Hartford School District
High school in town Lebanon High School Portsmouth High School — Hartford High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.7Highest
11.4
—
9.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.