Compare towns
Durham vs Hampton vs Plymouth 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 highest household income ($124k).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
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 | Plymouth | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080 |
16,426Highest |
6,601Lowest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3 NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lebanon and Plymouth 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% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
| Durham and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
| Hampton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
| Lebanon and Hampton 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 |
$6,813 about the NH average |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Hampton 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% |
5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
26 minHighest 3% below NH |
18 min 31% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon and Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Winnacunnet High School | Plymouth Regional High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
10.1Lowest |
12.8Highest |
11.7 |
| 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.