Compare towns
Newington vs Lebanon vs Somersworth 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 shortest commute (14 min average).
Somersworth has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
Portsmouth has the oldest housing (typical home built 1959).
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 | Somersworth | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 939Lowest |
14,999 |
12,111 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%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 |
38.4±2.7Lowest 11% 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%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Somersworth and Newington 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% |
14%±3Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest 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 | $145,833±$46kHighest 47% above NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Newington and Portsmouth 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±$29k 4% below NH |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,477±$134Lowest about the NH average |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
| Newington and Portsmouth 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 |
$8,149Highest 22% above NH |
$6,805 about the NH average |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Newington and Somersworth 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% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
57.8% NH: 72.8% |
51.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1967 12 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
26 minHighest 3% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5 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 | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newington School District | Lebanon School District | Somersworth School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lebanon High School | Somersworth High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Highest |
11.4Lowest |
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.