Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Lyme vs South Hampton 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).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
South Hampton has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Lebanon has the most affordable homes ($385k 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 | Lyme | South Hampton | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,545Highest |
1,710 |
984Lowest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2 about the NH average |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
| Lyme and South Hampton 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% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Lyme 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% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme 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% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Lebanon and Portsmouth 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 |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
| South Hampton and Lyme 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 |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$661,100±$45k 64% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
| Portsmouth and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
| South Hampton 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 |
$9,109 37% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme 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% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9% NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme 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 | Lyme School District | South Hampton School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town | None in town | Lebanon High School |
| 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.