Compare towns

Dover vs Hartford vs Wilder 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).
Hartford has the most homeowners (67.8%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Lebanon has the most people working from home (22.8%).

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.

MeasureDoverHartfordWilderLebanon
People
Population
33,364Highest
10,736
3,087Lowest
14,999
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+81.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
43.2±3.9
11% above U.S.
45.5±8.9Highest
17% above U.S.
38.9±3.1
about the U.S. average
Wilder and Hartford 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%
18%±3Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±2.4
U.S.: 22%
Hartford and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.5%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
27.3%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.4%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Wilder and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52%
U.S.: 35.7%
47.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
60.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
57.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
8.1%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Wilder and Lebanon 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.
$78,125±$7k
3% below U.S.
$75,143±$9kLowest
7% below 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.
$304,500±$26k
8% below U.S.
$273,200±$18kLowest
18% below U.S.
$385,400±$29k
16% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,607±$100
14% above U.S.
$1,218±$118
14% below U.S.
$1,142±$451Lowest
19% below 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.
$5,773
85% above U.S.
$5,505Lowest
76% above U.S.
$8,149
161% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.6%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±12.7
U.S.: 51.1%
39.9%±17.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.9%±7.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Dover and Hartford 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%
11.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
62.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
51.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr 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.
18 min
30% below U.S.
17 min
37% below U.S.
14 minLowest
47% below U.S.
Work from home
18.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
13.9%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
12.6%±6.7Lowest
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 #34 of 70 in VT — #29 of 120 in NH
School district Dover School District Hartford School District — Lebanon School District
High school in town Dover Senior High School Hartford High School — Lebanon High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.7Highest
9.6Lowest
—
11.7
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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.