Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Lebanon vs Canaan
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).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Canaan has the most homeowners (77.3%).
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 | Lebanon | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,545Highest |
14,999 |
3,811Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2 about the NH average |
38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
44.4±3.7Highest about the NH average |
| Canaan and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Canaan and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Canaan and Lebanon 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 7% above NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,018 20% above NH |
$8,149Highest 22% above NH |
$5,985Lowest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
13.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
77.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #83 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | Lebanon School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | Lebanon High School | Mascoma Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
11.7Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.