Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Lebanon vs Newfields vs Kittery
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).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Kittery has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
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 | Newfields | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,545Highest |
14,999 |
2,023Lowest |
10,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Kittery and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Newfields and Kittery 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% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kittery and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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±$7k 32% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111 32% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Newfields 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. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Portsmouth and Newfields 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% |
7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | — | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | Lebanon School District | Newfields School District | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | Lebanon High School | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
11.7Highest |
— | 9.9Lowest |
| 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.