Compare towns
Durham vs Lebanon vs Lyme 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).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
White River Junction has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
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 | Lebanon | Lyme | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
14,999 |
1,710Lowest |
3,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2 13% below U.S. |
| Lyme 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% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme 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% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme 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% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Lyme 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±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Lyme 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% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
21 minHighest 21% below U.S. |
15 min 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme 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 | Lebanon School District | Lyme 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 |
— | — |
| 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.