Compare towns
Durham vs Franconia vs South Hampton 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).
Franconia has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
South Hampton has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
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 | Franconia | South Hampton | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681 |
1,060 |
984Lowest |
14,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
| Franconia and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.2%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Franconia 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% |
36.6%±6.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.9% NH: 40.6% |
52.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5%±5.4 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$87,292±$28kLowest 12% below NH |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
| South Hampton 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 24% above NH |
$530,300±$96k 32% above NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
| South Hampton and Franconia 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 |
$1,281±$278Lowest 14% below NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
| South Hampton and Lebanon 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 |
$7,451Lowest 12% above NH |
$9,109 37% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia 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 NH: 7.2% |
11.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6% NH: 72.8% |
83.1% NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 36% below NH |
20 min 25% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon and South Hampton 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 | — | — | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Lafayette Regional School District | South Hampton School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.7 |
| 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.