Compare towns
Ashland vs Henniker vs Lebanon vs Newmarket
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Lebanon has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Newmarket has the most expensive homes ($455k median).
Henniker is a college town. 27% 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 | Ashland | Henniker | Lebanon | Newmarket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,183Lowest |
6,197 |
14,999Highest |
9,463 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average |
31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
| Ashland and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±6 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.4% NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
27%±6.5Highest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$95,206±$21k 4% below NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$100,845±$13kHighest about the NH average |
| Newmarket and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$356,700±$49k 11% below NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$455,000±$22kHighest 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155 26% below NH |
$1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,671±$69 12% above NH |
| Lebanon and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$8,877Highest 33% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$8,734 31% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.5%±22.6 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Newmarket and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
11.6% NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1% NH: 72.8% |
64.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
52.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
20 min 24% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon and Newmarket 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 | — | #56 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH | #39 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ashland School District | Henniker School District | Lebanon School District | Newmarket School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Lebanon High School | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.7Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| 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.