Compare towns
Durham vs Amherst vs Lee 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 20.8).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Amherst | Lee | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
11,861 |
4,576Lowest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
| Amherst and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee 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 NH: 40.6% |
65.7% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
| Amherst and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
| Amherst and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
— | $1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
| Lebanon and Amherst 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 |
$9,773 47% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$8,149Lowest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Lee 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 | #20 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— | 11.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.