Compare towns
Dover vs Lebanon vs Nelson
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).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Nelson has the most homeowners (90.2%).
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 | Lebanon | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
14,999 |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
42.3±11.7Highest about the NH average |
| Nelson 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% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson 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% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest 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 |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$99,792±$23kHighest about the NH average |
| Nelson 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 |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
| 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 24% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
24 minHighest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and Lebanon 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 | — |
| School district | Dover School District | Lebanon School District | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Lebanon High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
11.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.