Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Newmarket vs Milford 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).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Milford | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,545Highest |
9,463Lowest |
16,337 |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% 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 |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% 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%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest 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% |
37.2%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% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| 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 7% above NH |
$100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average |
$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 |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,671±$69 12% above NH |
$1,661±$126Lowest 11% above 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 |
$7,522Lowest 13% above NH |
$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% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth and Milford 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% NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9% NH: 72.8% |
52.9% NH: 72.8% |
64.9%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 |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest 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 | #55 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | Newmarket School District | Milford School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Milford High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
9.9Lowest |
10.7 |
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.