Compare towns
Dover vs Lee vs Canterbury vs Lebanon
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Canterbury has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Lee | Canterbury | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
4,576 |
2,353Lowest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+1.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
48.6±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
22.9%±3.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Canterbury and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
49.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.8%±3 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Lebanon and Canterbury 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 |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$129,333±$37k 31% above NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
| Lee and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$443,700±$21k 10% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
| Lee and Canterbury 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 |
— | $2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$7,421Lowest 11% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury and Dover 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% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.4% NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.7% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.6%±7.4 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | — | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Shaker Regional School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | None in town | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | — | 11.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.