Compare towns

Portsmouth vs White River Junction vs Enfield 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).
White River Junction has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Enfield has the most homeowners (82.1%).
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.

MeasurePortsmouthWhite River JunctionEnfieldLebanon
People
Population
22,545Highest
3,364Lowest
4,475
14,999
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.9±2
10% above U.S.
33.7±3.2Lowest
13% below U.S.
58.3±5.4Highest
50% above U.S.
38.9±3.1
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
14%±1.9
U.S.: 22%
17.1%±5Highest
U.S.: 22%
7.9%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
White River Junction and Lebanon 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%
12.5%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.7%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.4%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Enfield 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%
38.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
43%
U.S.: 35.7%
57.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
1.2%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±3.4
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±2.6Highest
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±$7kHighest
32% above U.S.
$77,168±$4kLowest
4% below U.S.
$95,474±$19k
18% above U.S.
$98,147±$10k
22% above U.S.
Portsmouth and Lebanon 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.
$278,800±$78kLowest
16% below U.S.
$390,800±$71k
17% above U.S.
$385,400±$29k
16% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,869±$111Highest
32% above U.S.
$1,222±$216
14% below U.S.
$1,181±$563Lowest
16% 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.
$5,651Lowest
81% above U.S.
$6,203
99% above U.S.
$8,149Highest
161% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.4%±7.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.9%±17.3
U.S.: 51.1%
17.8%±16.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.9%±7.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Portsmouth and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
16.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
51.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
43.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
51.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1959Lowest
21 yrs older than U.S.
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
22 min
16% below U.S.
15 min
42% below U.S.
24 minHighest
10% below U.S.
14 minLowest
47% below U.S.
Work from home
21.9%±4
U.S.: 15.1%
15.7%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
11%±5.7Lowest
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 — #5 of 120 in NH #29 of 120 in NH
School district Portsmouth School District — Mascoma Valley Regional 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
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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.