Compare towns
Durham vs Hampton Falls vs Kittery 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).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Kittery has the oldest housing (typical home built 1965).
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 | Hampton Falls | Kittery | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
2,328Lowest |
10,473 |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
| Hampton Falls and Kittery 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% |
19.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampton Falls and Kittery 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% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kittery and Hampton Falls 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% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,852±$475Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon and Kittery 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 | — | #17 of 133 in ME | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Hampton Falls School District | Kittery Public Schools | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 9.9Lowest |
11.7 |
| 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.