Compare towns
Plymouth vs Portsmouth vs Hopkinton 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
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Hopkinton has the most homeowners (87.3%).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
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 | Plymouth | Portsmouth | Hopkinton | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,601 |
22,545Highest |
6,037Lowest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
45±2.8Highest 4% above NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
| Hopkinton and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
18.8%±4.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Hopkinton and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.9%±4.2 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+ | 54%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
58.2% NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$137,477±$21kHighest 39% above NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$506,900±$54k 26% above NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,270±$129 15% below 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 | $6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
6.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3% NH: 72.8% |
51.9% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1968 11 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 31% below NH |
22 minHighest 17% below NH |
22 minHighest 17% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Hopkinton 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | #28 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Portsmouth School District | Hopkinton School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Plymouth Regional High School | Portsmouth High School | Hopkinton High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
11.4Lowest |
12.0 |
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.