Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Dover vs South Eliot vs Lebanon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Dover has the most kids (16.9% under 18).
South Eliot has the most homeowners (79.9%).
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 | Portsmouth | Dover | South Eliot | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,545 |
33,364Highest |
4,203Lowest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Dover and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,219±$7kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$99,299±$9k 23% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$475,600±$52k 43% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111 32% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100Lowest 14% above U.S. |
$2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,018 157% above U.S. |
$8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$4,442Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Eliot and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | — | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | Dover School District | — | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | Dover Senior High School | — | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.7Highest |
— | 11.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.