Compare towns
Dover vs Pelham 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).
Pelham has the most homeowners (86.7%).
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 | Pelham | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
14,449Lowest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
41.5±2.7Highest 4% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
| Pelham and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% NH: 40.6% |
40%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
| Lebanon and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$8,149Lowest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham 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% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest 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 |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #64 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Pelham School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Pelham High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
10.4Lowest |
11.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.