Compare towns
Canaan 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
Canaan has the most homeowners (77.3%).
Dover has the most kids (16.9% under 18).
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 | Canaan | Dover | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,811Lowest |
33,364Highest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7Highest about the NH average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
| Canaan and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Canaan and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$98,147±$10kHighest about the NH average |
| Lebanon and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
| Lebanon and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985Lowest 10% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon and Dover 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 | #83 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Dover School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Dover Senior High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
12.7Highest |
11.7 |
| 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.