Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Lebanon vs New Castle vs Dover
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1959).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k median).
Dover has the most kids (16.9% under 18).
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 | New Castle | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,545 |
14,999 |
827Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+3.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2 about the NH average |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
62.8±6Highest 45% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±7.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64% NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
68.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| 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±$7k 7% above NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$176,953±$29kHighest 79% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$1,701,300±$267kHighest 323% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$3,501Highest 135% above NH |
$1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$8,509Highest 28% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
0%±85.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth and Dover 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% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7% 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 |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
40.1%±19.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| New Castle 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | — | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | Lebanon School District | New Castle School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | Lebanon High School | None in town | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
11.7 |
— | 12.7Highest |
| 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.