Compare towns
Newington vs Lebanon vs Hanover 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
Newington has the most homeowners (86.9%).
Lebanon has the most affordable homes ($385k median).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Portsmouth has the oldest housing (typical home built 1959).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Newington | Lebanon | Hanover | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 939Lowest |
14,999 |
11,685 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Newington and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Newington and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Newington and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4% NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $145,833±$46k 47% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Hanover and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$824,900±$61k 105% above NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
| Newington and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$1,744±$132Lowest 17% above NH |
$2,253±$217 51% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
| Newington and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.9%±44 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
51.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 13% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Lebanon 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newington School District | Lebanon School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lebanon High School | Hanover High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Highest |
10.7Lowest |
11.4 |
| 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.