Compare towns
Durham vs Eliot vs Lebanon vs Hanover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Lebanon has the most affordable homes ($385k median).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
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 | Eliot | Lebanon | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681 |
7,146Lowest |
14,999Highest |
11,685 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
28.7±5.1 26% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Eliot 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 39% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45k 50% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Eliot 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 221% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 35% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 15% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME | #29 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Lebanon School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Lebanon High School | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.7Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.