Compare towns
Dover vs Norwich vs Bow vs Lebanon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the youngest population (median age 36.9).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
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 | Norwich | Bow | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
3,640Lowest |
8,335 |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
41.5±2Highest 7% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
| Bow and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lebanon and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 17% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Lebanon and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 164% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
$8,149Lowest 161% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon and Bow 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 | #1 of 70 in VT | #26 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Norwich School District | Bow School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | Bow 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 | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.