Compare towns

Durham vs Ripton vs Lebanon

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Lebanon has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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.

MeasureDurhamRiptonLebanon
People
Population
10,681
508Lowest
14,999Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
20.1±0.2Lowest
48% below U.S.
47.7±14.2Highest
23% above U.S.
38.9±3.1
about the U.S. average
Ripton 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
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Lebanon and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
7.5%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.4%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Ripton 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
U.S.: 35.7%
48%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
57.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
70.2%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,070±$25k
39% above U.S.
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
$98,147±$10kLowest
22% above U.S.
Ripton 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
50% above U.S.
$394,400±$61k
19% above U.S.
$385,400±$29kLowest
16% above U.S.
Durham and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,302±$211Lowest
8% below U.S.
—
$1,744±$132Highest
23% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,915Lowest
58% above U.S.
$8,149
161% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.4%±19.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
41.9%±7.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Durham and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
53.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
51.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
17 min
35% below U.S.
24 minHighest
9% below U.S.
14 minLowest
47% below U.S.
Work from home
15.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Lebanon and Ripton 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 — Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 Lebanon School District
High school in town — None in town Lebanon High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.7
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.