Compare towns
Amherst vs Durham 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
Amherst has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Amherst | Durham | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861Lowest |
15,080Highest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.7% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
| Amherst and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
| Amherst and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
| Lebanon and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,149Lowest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst 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 | #20 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Oyster River High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.3Highest |
11.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.