Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Durham vs Bedford 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).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Bedford has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Portsmouth | Durham | Bedford | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,545 |
15,080 |
23,746Highest |
14,999Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2 about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
| Bedford and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 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+ | 64% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
63% NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$612,100±$26k 52% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
| Bedford and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,803 47% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9% NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
25 minHighest 5% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Bedford School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | Oyster River High School | Bedford High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
12.3 |
13.5Highest |
11.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.