Compare towns
Lebanon vs Somersworth vs Ashland
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%).
Somersworth has the youngest population (median age 38.4).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k 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 | Somersworth | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,999Highest |
12,111 |
2,183Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
38.4±2.7Lowest 11% below NH |
42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average |
| Ashland and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Somersworth 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% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lebanon and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10kHighest about the NH average |
$74,504±$13k 25% below NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29kHighest 4% below NH |
$318,400±$23k 21% below NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,149Highest 22% above NH |
$6,805 about the NH average |
$4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Somersworth and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2% NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
57.8% NH: 72.8% |
64.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
26 minHighest 3% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #29 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Somersworth School District | Ashland School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | Somersworth 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 |
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.