Compare towns
Dover vs Lee vs Windham 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 the youngest population (median age 36.9).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Windham | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
4,576Lowest |
16,038 |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
| Lee and Windham 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% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee 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% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest 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 |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
| Windham and Lee 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±$61k 19% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
— | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,149Lowest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Windham 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% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 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 |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Windham School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | Windham High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | 12.8Highest |
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.