Compare towns

Durham vs Lebanon vs Durham vs Henniker

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).
Lebanon has the oldest population (median age 38.9).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
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.

MeasureDurhamLebanonDurhamHenniker
People
Population
15,080Highest
14,999
10,681
6,197Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.8%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+8.6%
NH: +4.6%
+7.8%
NH: +4.6%
+27.9%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
20.8±0.3
52% below NH
38.9±3.1Highest
10% below NH
20.1±0.2Lowest
54% below NH
31.1±6.1
28% below NH
Lebanon and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
10.3%±2.1
NH: 18.2%
14.6%±2.4
NH: 18.2%
6.5%±2Lowest
NH: 18.2%
15.3%±3.7Highest
NH: 18.2%
Henniker and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
11.5%±1.6
NH: 20.1%
21.4%±2.6Highest
NH: 20.1%
7.5%±1.4Lowest
NH: 20.1%
16.5%±6
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%
57.5%
NH: 40.6%
75.4%Highest
NH: 40.6%
41.4%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
55.1%±3.2
NH: 6%
6.9%±2.6Lowest
NH: 6%
70.2%±1.6Highest
NH: 6%
27%±6.5
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$124,056±$21kHighest
25% above NH
$98,147±$10k
about the NH average
$112,070±$25k
13% above NH
$95,206±$21kLowest
4% below NH
Durham and Durham 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
$385,400±$29k
4% below NH
$498,000±$45k
24% above NH
$356,700±$49kLowest
11% below NH
Durham 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
$1,744±$132Highest
17% above NH
$1,302±$211
13% below NH
$1,081±$164Lowest
27% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$8,149Lowest
22% above NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$8,877
33% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
66.4%±16Highest
NH: 48.2%
41.9%±7.2Lowest
NH: 48.2%
55.4%±19.2
NH: 48.2%
43.5%±22.6
NH: 48.2%
Durham and Durham 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%
7%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
12.4%
NH: 7.2%
11.6%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
64.4%
NH: 72.8%
51.2%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
53.6%
NH: 72.8%
64.5%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
2 yrs newer than NH
1980
1 yr newer than NH
1973Lowest
6 yrs older than NH
1974
5 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
19 min
27% below NH
14 minLowest
48% below NH
17 min
36% below NH
20 minHighest
24% below NH
Work from home
19.4%±3.5
NH: 16.8%
22.8%±4.3Highest
NH: 16.8%
15.6%±3.3
NH: 16.8%
15.5%±5.6Lowest
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 #29 of 120 in NH #9 of 120 in NH #56 of 120 in NH
School district Oyster River Coop School District Lebanon School District — Henniker School District
High school in town Oyster River High School Lebanon High School — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.3Highest
11.7Lowest
— —
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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.