Compare towns
Durham vs Mont Vernon vs Henniker 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).
Mont Vernon has the most homeowners (95.9%).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
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 | Mont Vernon | Henniker | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
2,636Lowest |
6,197 |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.3% NH: +4.6% |
+27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
42.9±2.8Highest about the NH average |
31.1±6.1 28% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
| Mont Vernon 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% |
22.1%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Mont Vernon 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% |
15.6%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±6 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% |
50.8% NH: 40.6% |
41.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 6% |
27%±6.5 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$158,036±$19kHighest 60% above NH |
$95,206±$21kLowest 4% below NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
| Mont Vernon 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 25% above NH |
$526,300±$39kHighest 31% above NH |
$356,700±$49kLowest 11% below NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
| Mont Vernon 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 |
$1,104±$185 26% below NH |
$1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,432 41% above NH |
$8,877 33% above NH |
$8,149Lowest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8 NH: 48.2% |
43.5%±22.6 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Mont Vernon 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% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.6% NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.5% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr 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 |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
20 min 24% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Mont Vernon 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 | #4 of 120 in NH | #56 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Mont Vernon School District | Henniker School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town | Lebanon High School |
| 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 |
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.