Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Newmarket vs Hartford vs Lebanon
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).
Hartford has the most homeowners (67.8%).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Newmarket | Hartford | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,545Highest |
9,463Lowest |
10,736 |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
41.2±1.9 6% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Hartford 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 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Hartford and Newmarket 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% |
16.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon and Newmarket 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 32% above U.S. |
$100,845±$13k 25% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$455,000±$22k 37% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,671±$69 18% above U.S. |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,018 157% above U.S. |
$8,734Highest 180% above U.S. |
$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Portsmouth and Newmarket 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% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.3%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #39 of 120 in NH | #34 of 70 in VT | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | Newmarket School District | Hartford School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Hartford High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
9.9 |
9.6Lowest |
11.7Highest |
| 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.