Compare towns
Newmarket vs Portsmouth vs Bow vs Lebanon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Bow has the most homeowners (87.5%).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Portsmouth | Bow | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,463 |
22,545Highest |
8,335Lowest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Bow 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% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 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% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Lebanon and Newmarket 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 |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,671±$69 12% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% 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 | $8,734 31% above NH |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 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% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.9% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 17.3%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon and Bow 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newmarket School District | Portsmouth School District | Bow School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Portsmouth High School | Bow High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.9Lowest |
11.4 |
12.8Highest |
11.7 |
| 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.