Compare towns
Durham vs Eliot vs Lebanon vs Henniker
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).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
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 | Eliot | Lebanon | Henniker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
7,146 |
14,999 |
6,197Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
31.1±6.1 20% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Eliot and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot 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% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
27%±6.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$95,206±$21kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Durham and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$356,700±$49kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Durham and Eliot 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 |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
$1,081±$164Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Lebanon 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 221% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
$8,877 185% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±22.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Eliot 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% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 15% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
20 min 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.5%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon and Durham 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #29 of 120 in NH | #56 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Lebanon School District | Henniker School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Lebanon High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 11.7Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.