Compare towns
Dover vs Essex Junction vs Lebanon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Essex Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Dover | Essex Junction | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
10,803Lowest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
39.3±3.1Highest about the U.S. average |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
| Essex Junction and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Essex Junction 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$89,257±$16kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Lebanon and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$407,500±$20k 22% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Dover and Essex Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,544±$135Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Lebanon and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$6,797Lowest 118% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.3%±14.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Essex Junction and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
59.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #14 of 70 in VT | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Essex High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
11.7Lowest |
11.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.