Compare towns
Newmarket vs Auburn 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
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
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 | Newmarket | Auburn | Lebanon | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,463 |
6,119Lowest |
14,999 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Auburn and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Auburn and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest 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+ | 49.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,671±$69Lowest 12% above NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
| Auburn and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,734Highest 31% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
51.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 17.3%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn 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 | #39 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newmarket School District | Auburn School District | Lebanon School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | None in town | Lebanon High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
— | 11.7Highest |
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.