Compare towns
Dover vs Plymouth vs Stratham 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%).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Stratham has the most homeowners (92.6%).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% 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 | Plymouth | Stratham | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
6,601Lowest |
7,754 |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
41.6±4.9Highest 4% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
| Stratham 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% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Dover 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% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon and Stratham 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% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham 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% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
18 min 31% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Plymouth Regional High School | None in town | 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 |
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.