Compare towns
Dover vs Lebanon vs New Ipswich vs Plymouth
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).
New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% under 18).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% 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.
| Measure | Dover | Lebanon | New Ipswich | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
14,999 |
5,310Lowest |
6,601 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.1% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
38.9±3.1Highest 10% below NH |
36.9±2.4 15% below NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
| Lebanon and Dover 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%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
12.3%±3 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$110,507±$9kHighest 12% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
| New Ipswich 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 |
$392,400±$31k about the NH average |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
| Dover and New Ipswich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$882±$469Lowest 41% below NH |
$1,108±$255 26% 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 |
$5,647Lowest 15% below NH |
$6,288 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±41.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| New Ipswich 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% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
18 min 31% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest 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 | #82 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Lebanon School District | Mascenic Regional School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Lebanon High School | Mascenic Regional High School | Plymouth Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
11.7Lowest |
11.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.