Compare towns
Durham vs Dover vs Cornish 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
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Dover has the most kids (16.9% under 18).
Cornish has the most homeowners (94.1%).
Lebanon has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Durham | Dover | Cornish | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681 |
33,364Highest |
1,816Lowest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Cornish and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
40.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25kHighest 13% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$91,821±$2kLowest 7% below NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
| Durham and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
| Durham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,221±$227Lowest 18% 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 | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$5,796Lowest 13% below NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6% NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
94.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 36% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
24 minHighest 9% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon and Dover 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | — | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Dover School District | Cornish 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 | 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.