Compare towns
Dover vs Readfield 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 most expensive homes ($437k median).
Readfield has the most homeowners (89.9%).
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 | Readfield | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
2,651Lowest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
48.1±7.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
| Readfield 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 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Readfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Readfield 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2Lowest 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±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$86,504±$8kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Lebanon and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kHighest 31% above U.S. |
$326,400±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,125±$844Lowest 20% below 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 | $8,249Highest 164% above U.S. |
$3,392Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±100Lowest 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% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.3%±14.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Readfield 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 | #20 of 133 in ME | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | RSU 38 | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Maranacook Community High Sch | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
11.5Lowest |
11.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.