Compare towns
Durham vs Lebanon vs Milford vs Plymouth
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 most expensive homes ($504k median).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k 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 | Milford | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080 |
14,999 |
16,337Highest |
6,601Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
38.9±3.1Highest 10% below NH |
36.8±2.5 15% below NH |
24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
| Lebanon and Milford 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% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
| 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 |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
| Lebanon and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$7,522 13% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1% NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
18 min 31% 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% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest 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 | #55 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Lebanon School District | Milford School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Lebanon High School | Milford High School | Plymouth Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
11.7 |
10.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.