Compare towns
Durham vs Dover vs Bow 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).
Dover has the oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Dover | Bow | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080 |
33,364Highest |
8,335Lowest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
41.5±2Highest 4% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
| Bow 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 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon and Bow 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% |
52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
| Bow 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 |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
| Lebanon and Dover 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 |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$8,149Lowest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon and Bow 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Dover School District | Bow School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Dover Senior High School | Bow High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
12.7 |
12.8Highest |
11.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.