Compare towns
South Hampton vs Portsmouth 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
South Hampton has the most homeowners (88.6%).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Lebanon has the most affordable homes ($385k median).
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 | South Hampton | Portsmouth | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 984Lowest |
22,545Highest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3Highest 4% above NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
| South Hampton and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Highest 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+ | 52.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| 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 | $152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
| South Hampton and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,100±$45k 64% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
| Portsmouth and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$1,744±$132Lowest 17% above NH |
| South Hampton and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,109Highest 37% above NH |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Portsmouth and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 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 | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | South Hampton School District | Portsmouth School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School | 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 |
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.