Compare towns
Lebanon vs Somersworth vs Plaistow vs Enfield
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).
Plaistow has the highest household income ($108k).
Enfield has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
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 | Plaistow | Enfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999Highest |
12,111 |
7,861 |
4,475Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
-2.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
38.4±2.7Lowest 11% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
58.3±5.4Highest 35% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
7.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Somersworth and Plaistow 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% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
30.7%±7.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Enfield 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% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
43% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
2.7%±3.4Lowest 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 |
$108,317±$13kHighest 9% above NH |
$95,474±$19k 4% below NH |
| Plaistow 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 4% below NH |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
$404,500±$32kHighest about the NH average |
$390,800±$71k about the NH average |
| Plaistow and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,181±$563Lowest 21% below NH |
| Lebanon and Plaistow 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 |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$6,203Lowest 7% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
17.8%±16.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Somersworth and Plaistow 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% NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
16.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
57.8% NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
11%±5.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #29 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH | #5 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Somersworth School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | Somersworth High School | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
11.4Lowest |
11.4Lowest |
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| 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.