Compare towns
Durham vs Hartford vs Lebanon vs White River Junction
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).
Hartford has the oldest population (median age 43.2).
Lebanon has the most people working from home (22.8%).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | Hartford | Lebanon | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
10,736 |
14,999 |
3,364Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
33.7±3.2 13% below U.S. |
| Hartford and Lebanon 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% |
18%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Hartford and White River Junction 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% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford 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% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| 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±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,773 85% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Hartford 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% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest 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. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minHighest 27% below U.S. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
15 min 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 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 | #34 of 70 in VT | #29 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Hartford School District | Lebanon School District | — |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Hartford High School | Lebanon High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
9.6Lowest |
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.