Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Newmarket vs Keene 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).
Newmarket has the most kids (15.6% under 18).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
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 | Keene | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,545 |
9,463Lowest |
22,939Highest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2Highest about the NH average |
41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Newmarket 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% |
15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Newmarket and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Portsmouth and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49.7% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,219±$7kHighest 7% above NH |
$100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
| 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 71% above NH |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,671±$69 12% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
| 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 20% above NH |
$8,734Highest 31% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$8,149 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| 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% NH: 7.2% |
4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9% NH: 72.8% |
52.9% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1961 18 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
17 min 36% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | Newmarket School District | Keene School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Keene High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
9.9Lowest |
12.3Highest |
11.7 |
| 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.