Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Lebanon vs Newington vs New Castle
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 most affordable homes ($385k median).
Newington has the most kids (15.7% under 18).
New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k median).
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 | Newington | New Castle |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,545Highest |
14,999 |
939 |
827Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+3.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2 about the NH average |
38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
48.7±10.1 12% above NH |
62.8±6Highest 45% above NH |
| New Castle and Newington 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% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
15.7%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±7.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Newington 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%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28%±11 NH: 20.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| New Castle and Newington 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% |
57.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.4% NH: 40.6% |
68.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
0.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lebanon and Newington 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±$10kLowest about the NH average |
$145,833±$46k 47% above NH |
$176,953±$29kHighest 79% above NH |
| New Castle and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$861,600±$46k 114% above NH |
$1,701,300±$267kHighest 323% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$1,744±$132Lowest 17% above NH |
$2,292±$795 54% above NH |
$3,501Highest 135% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,018 20% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
$8,509Highest 28% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±85.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Newington and Portsmouth 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.9% NH: 72.8% |
93%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs 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 |
23 min 13% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
40.1%±19.4Highest 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 | — | — |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | Lebanon School District | Newington School District | New Castle School District |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | Lebanon High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
11.7Highest |
— | — |
| 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.