Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Rye vs Lebanon vs Newington
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).
Rye has the most people working from home (30.9%).
Lebanon has the most affordable homes ($385k median).
Newington has the highest household income ($146k).
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 | Rye | Lebanon | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,545Highest |
5,611 |
14,999 |
939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2 about the NH average |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
48.7±10.1 12% above NH |
| Rye and Newington 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% |
18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
15.7%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Rye and Newington 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28%±11 NH: 20.1% |
| Rye 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8 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 |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
$145,833±$46kHighest 47% above NH |
| Newington and Rye 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 |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$861,600±$46k 114% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,744±$132Lowest 17% above NH |
$2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
| Newington and Portsmouth 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 |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$8,149Highest 22% above NH |
$6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44Highest 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% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9% NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | Rye School District | Lebanon School District | Newington School District |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town | Lebanon High School | 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.