Compare towns
Durham vs Hartford vs Lebanon vs Lee
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).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
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 | Hartford | Lebanon | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681 |
10,736 |
14,999Highest |
4,576Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
| Hartford and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lee and Hartford 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% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee and Hartford 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 39% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
| Lee 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±$45kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61k 44% above U.S. |
| Durham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211 8% below U.S. |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
$9,661 210% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Hartford 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% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 35% below U.S. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee 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 | #34 of 70 in VT | #29 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Hartford School District | Lebanon School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | — | Hartford High School | Lebanon High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.6Lowest |
11.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → |
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.