Compare towns
Auburn vs Dover 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
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Dover has the youngest population (median age 36.9).
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.
| Measure | Auburn | Dover | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,119Lowest |
33,364Highest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
| Auburn and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Auburn and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% NH: 40.6% |
52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
| Auburn and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,092Lowest 21% above NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn 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 | #44 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Dover School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
11.7Lowest |
| 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.