Compare towns
Newington vs Plymouth 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
Newington has the most homeowners (86.9%).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Portsmouth has the oldest housing (typical home built 1959).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% 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 | Plymouth | Lebanon | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 939Lowest |
6,601 |
14,999 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% 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% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 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% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 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% |
54%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $145,833±$46kHighest 47% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$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 |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$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 |
$6,288 6% below NH |
$8,149Highest 22% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Newington and Portsmouth 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% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
51.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 13% below NH |
18 min 31% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6 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 | — | #47 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newington School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Lebanon School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Plymouth Regional High School | Lebanon High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
11.7 |
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.