Compare towns
Durham vs Jay 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).
Jay has the most homeowners (97%).
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 | Jay | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
471Lowest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
| Jay 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% |
14.2%±7.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lebanon and Jay 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% |
15.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lebanon and Jay 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% |
45.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above 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. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay 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 |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 11.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 51 photos → | 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.