Compare towns
Madbury vs Lebanon 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
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Madbury | Lebanon | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
14,999 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% 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 | 29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 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+ | 52.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 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 | $148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above 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 | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
51.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 5% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest 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 | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Lebanon School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lebanon High School | Portsmouth High School |
| 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.