Compare towns
Portsmouth vs Rye vs Lebanon vs South Eliot
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1959).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
South Eliot has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | South Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,545Highest |
5,611 |
14,999 |
4,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Rye 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% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Rye and South Eliot 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% |
31.7%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| South Eliot and Rye 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% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 32% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$99,299±$9k 23% above U.S. |
| Rye and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $688,500±$39k 107% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$475,600±$52k 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111 32% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156 26% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Portsmouth 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. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
$8,149Highest 161% above U.S. |
$4,442Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Eliot and Portsmouth 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% |
6.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 16% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | 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 |
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.