Compare towns
Durham vs Lebanon vs Hampton Falls 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).
Lebanon has the most affordable homes ($385k median).
Hampton Falls has the most kids (19.1% under 18).
Hanover has the most people working from home (26.4%).
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 | Hampton Falls | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681 |
14,999Highest |
2,328Lowest |
11,685 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton Falls 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%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls 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% NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
$166,157±$14k 68% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls 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 |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$772,600±$76k 92% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls 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 |
$8,149Lowest 22% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover 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% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 36% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | — | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Lebanon School District | Hampton Falls School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District |
| High school in town | — | Lebanon High School | None in town | Hanover High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.