Compare towns
Durham vs Mont Vernon vs Lebanon vs Durham
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).
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 | Lebanon | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681 |
2,636Lowest |
14,999 |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+7.3% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
42.9±2.8Highest about the NH average |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
20.8±0.3 52% below NH |
| Mont Vernon 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% |
22.1%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$158,036±$19kHighest 60% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
| Mont Vernon 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 |
$526,300±$39kHighest 31% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
| Mont Vernon and Durham 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 |
$1,104±$185Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,432 41% above NH |
$8,149Lowest 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% |
51.4%±80.8 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Durham 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% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 36% below NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Mont Vernon 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 | #4 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Mont Vernon School District | Lebanon School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Lebanon High School | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.7Lowest |
12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.