Compare towns
Dover vs Salisbury 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 expensive homes ($437k median).
Salisbury has the most homeowners (96.9%).
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 | Salisbury | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
1,609Lowest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
51.5±4.5Highest 19% above NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
20.1%±9.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Salisbury 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 NH: 20.1% |
24.9%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Salisbury 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% NH: 40.6% |
37.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$111,591±$17kHighest 13% above NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
| Salisbury 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±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$363,400±$47kLowest 10% below NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
$1,917±$632Highest 29% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
| Salisbury 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 |
$5,859Lowest 12% below NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| 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 NH: 7.2% |
7.1% NH: 7.2% |
7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.3%±10.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Salisbury 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 | — | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Merrimack Valley 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 |
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.