Compare towns
Durham vs Eliot vs Wilmot 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).
Eliot has the oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
Wilmot has the most kids (17.1% 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 | Eliot | Wilmot | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
7,146 |
1,487Lowest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
53±2.4Highest 36% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
| Wilmot and Eliot 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% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Wilmot and Eliot 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% |
24.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Wilmot 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$117,759±$15k 46% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Durham and Wilmot 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. |
$399,600±$43k 20% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29kLowest 16% 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. |
$1,125±$289Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,744±$132 23% above 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. |
$6,651 113% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% 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% |
41.1%±41.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest 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 |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — | 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 | 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.