Compare towns
Center Harbor 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
Center Harbor has the most homeowners (91%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Lebanon has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Center Harbor | Durham | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 955Lowest |
10,681 |
14,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 11.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lebanon and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,313±$16k 5% above NH |
$112,070±$25kHighest 13% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
| Durham and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$74k 15% above NH |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
| Durham and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,667Lowest 30% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 8% below NH |
17 min 36% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon and Durham 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | — | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | — | — | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 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.