Compare towns
Durham vs Lebanon vs Auburn vs Plymouth
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 shortest commute (14 min average).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k 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 | Lebanon | Auburn | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681 |
14,999Highest |
6,119Lowest |
6,601 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
| Auburn 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% |
19.3%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Auburn 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% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
54%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
| Auburn 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 |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6 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% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 36% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
18 min 31% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Lebanon School District | Auburn School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | Lebanon High School | None in town | Plymouth Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| 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.