Compare towns
Durham vs Henniker vs Hillsborough 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 youngest population (median age 20.8).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Hillsborough has the most homeowners (92.3%).
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 | Henniker | Hillsborough | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
6,197 |
5,980Lowest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
31.1±6.1 28% below NH |
40.9±4.6Highest 6% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
| Hillsborough 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 NH: 18.2% |
15.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Hillsborough and Henniker 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% |
16.5%±6 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon and Henniker 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% |
41.4% NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
27%±6.5 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$95,206±$21k 4% below NH |
$84,495±$12kLowest 15% 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±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$356,700±$49k 11% below NH |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,198±$390 20% below NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,877 33% above NH |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.5%±22.6 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
11.6% NH: 7.2% |
6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
64.5% NH: 72.8% |
92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
20 min 24% below NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #56 of 120 in NH | #97 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Henniker School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
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.