Compare towns
Dover vs Newington vs Plymouth 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 most kids (16.9% under 18).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 22.8).
Lebanon has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Plymouth is a college town. 42.5% 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 | Newington | Plymouth | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
939Lowest |
4,969 |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+6.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
22.8±0.9Lowest 47% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
| Newington and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.7%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
13.3%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Newington 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% |
28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
9.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Newington 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% |
62.4% NH: 40.6% |
63.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
42.5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$145,833±$46kHighest 47% above NH |
$89,500±$32kLowest 10% below NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
| Newington 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±$20k 8% above NH |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
$294,400±$28kLowest 27% below NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$1,296±$295Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
| Newington 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 |
$6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
$6,483 about the NH average |
$8,149 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Newington 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% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
17%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
86.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
50.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
51.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
23 minHighest 13% below NH |
16 min 39% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
10.5%±4 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest 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 | — | #47 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Newington School District | — | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | 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 | 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.