Compare towns
Durham vs Lebanon vs Ashland vs Madbury
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).
Lebanon has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
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 | Lebanon | Ashland | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681 |
14,999Highest |
2,183Lowest |
2,203 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
| Ashland 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% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Ashland 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% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland 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% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
| Madbury 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 24% above NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
| Durham and Madbury 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 |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
| Lebanon and Madbury 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 |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4% NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 36% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon and Durham 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 | — | Lebanon School District | Ashland School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | — | Lebanon High School | None in town | None in town |
| 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.