Compare towns
Durham vs Mont Vernon vs Auburn vs Lebanon
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).
Mont Vernon has the most kids (22.1% under 18).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Lebanon has the most affordable homes ($385k 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 | Mont Vernon | Auburn | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681 |
2,636Lowest |
6,119 |
14,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+7.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
42.9±2.8 about the NH average |
44.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
| Auburn and Mont Vernon 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% |
22.1%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Mont Vernon and Auburn 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% |
15.6%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$158,036±$19kHighest 60% above NH |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
| Mont Vernon and Auburn 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 |
$526,300±$39k 31% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,104±$185Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above 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 |
$9,432 41% above NH |
$8,092Lowest 21% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Mont Vernon 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% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 36% below NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Mont Vernon and Auburn 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 | #4 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Mont Vernon School District | Auburn School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Lebanon High School |
| 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.