Compare towns
Dover vs Durham vs Hampton Falls 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
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Dover | Durham | Hampton Falls | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
15,080 |
2,328Lowest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,149Lowest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon and Hampton Falls 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | — | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Hampton Falls School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Oyster River High School | None in town | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
12.3 |
— | 11.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.