Compare towns

Dover vs Henniker vs Lebanon vs Norwich

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
Henniker is a college town. 27% 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.

MeasureDoverHennikerLebanonNorwich
People
Population
33,364Highest
6,197
14,999
3,640Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+27.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
36.9±1.9
5% below U.S.
31.1±6.1Lowest
20% below U.S.
38.9±3.1
about the U.S. average
40.8±3.2Highest
5% above U.S.
Norwich 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%
15.3%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
24%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
16.8%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
16.5%±6
U.S.: 17.2%
21.4%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52%
U.S.: 35.7%
41.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
57.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
81%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
27%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,829±$7kLowest
17% above U.S.
$95,206±$21k
18% above U.S.
$98,147±$10k
22% above U.S.
$140,313±$12kHighest
74% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$436,700±$20k
31% above U.S.
$356,700±$49kLowest
7% above U.S.
$385,400±$29k
16% above U.S.
$637,500±$76kHighest
92% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,607±$100
14% above U.S.
$1,081±$164Lowest
23% below U.S.
$1,744±$132Highest
23% above U.S.
$1,460±$322
3% 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
$8,249
164% above U.S.
$8,877
185% above U.S.
$8,149Lowest
161% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.6%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.5%±22.6
U.S.: 51.1%
41.9%±7.2
U.S.: 51.1%
30.7%±19.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Dover and Henniker 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%
11.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
52.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
64.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
51.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minHighest
14% below U.S.
20 min
23% below U.S.
14 minLowest
47% below U.S.
19 min
28% below U.S.
Work from home
18.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
15.5%±5.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
21%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
Lebanon and Norwich 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 #56 of 120 in NH #29 of 120 in NH #1 of 70 in VT
School district Dover School District Henniker School District Lebanon School District Norwich School District
High school in town Dover Senior High School None in town Lebanon High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.7Highest
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11.7Lowest
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On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.