Compare towns
Durham vs Dorset 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 20.8).
Dorset has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Dorset | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
2,092Lowest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
| Dorset and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorset 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% |
72.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Durham and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,489Lowest 140% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 18% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset 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 |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 11.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.