Compare towns
Lebanon vs Somersworth vs New Ipswich vs Portsmouth
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 most affordable homes ($318k median).
New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% under 18).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k 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 | New Ipswich | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
12,111 |
5,310Lowest |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.1% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
36.9±2.4Lowest 15% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
| 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%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
14%±3 NH: 20.1% |
12.3%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest 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% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
32.1% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 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±$10k about the NH average |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$110,507±$9kHighest 12% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| New Ipswich and Portsmouth 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 |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
$392,400±$31k about the NH average |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$882±$469Lowest 41% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above 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 |
$6,805 about the NH average |
$5,647Lowest 15% below NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±41.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| New Ipswich and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
57.8% NH: 72.8% |
82.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1967 12 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 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 | #117 of 120 in NH | #82 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Somersworth School District | Mascenic Regional School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | Somersworth High School | Mascenic Regional High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
11.4Lowest |
11.7Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.