Compare towns
Derry vs Lebanon vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derry has the most homeowners (70.2%).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Derry | Lebanon | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
14,999Lowest |
33,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Highest 7% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Derry and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Lebanon and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7kHighest 10% above NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
| Derry and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
| Dover and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% 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 | $8,103Lowest 22% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Lebanon School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Lebanon High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
11.7Lowest |
12.7 |
| 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.