Compare towns
Dover vs Holderness vs Lebanon vs Milford
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 the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Holderness has the most homeowners (83.7%).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Holderness | Lebanon | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
1,917Lowest |
14,999 |
16,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
39.4±7.4Highest 9% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
| Holderness 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 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% NH: 40.6% |
55.7% NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 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 | $94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$107,863±$45kHighest 9% above NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
| Holderness and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$363,100±$60kLowest 10% below NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
| Dover and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,661±$126 11% above NH |
| Holderness and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$7,522 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Milford 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% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
83.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | — | #29 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Holderness School District | Lebanon School District | Milford School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | Lebanon High School | Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | 11.7 |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.