Compare towns
Durham vs Hillsborough vs Lebanon vs Hanover
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).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Hillsborough | Lebanon | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681 |
5,980Lowest |
14,999Highest |
11,685 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
40.9±4.6Highest 6% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
| Hillsborough and Lebanon 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% |
17.4%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Hillsborough 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% |
16.4%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4% NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
| 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 24% above NH |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Hillsborough 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% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6% NH: 72.8% |
92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 36% below NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #97 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Lebanon School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | — | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Lebanon High School | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
11.7Highest |
10.7 |
| 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.