Compare towns
Lebanon vs Portsmouth vs Windham
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 most affordable homes ($385k median).
Portsmouth has the oldest population (median age 42.9).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,999Lowest |
22,545Highest |
16,038 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lebanon and Portsmouth 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 |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
| Windham and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132Lowest 17% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,149 22% above NH |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Windham 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% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
51.9% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest 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 | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Portsmouth School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | Portsmouth High School | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
11.4Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.