Compare towns
Durham vs Francestown vs Lebanon vs Plymouth
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 most expensive homes ($504k median).
Francestown has the most homeowners (95.3%).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
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 | Francestown | Lebanon | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
1,398Lowest |
14,999 |
6,601 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+3.1% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
51.2±4.5Highest 18% above NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Francestown and Lebanon 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% |
21.7%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Francestown 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% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$104,063±$16k 5% above NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
| Durham and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$408,200±$34k about the NH average |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,358±$256 9% below NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,014 20% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±77Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Francestown and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1% NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
42 minHighest 57% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
18 min 31% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Francestown 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 | #47 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Lebanon School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Lebanon High School | Plymouth Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | 11.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.