Compare towns
Durham vs Newington vs South Eliot 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).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
South Eliot has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Newington | South Eliot | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
939Lowest |
4,203 |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
48.7±10.1 25% above U.S. |
55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
| South Eliot and Newington 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% |
15.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Newington and South Eliot 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% |
28%±11 U.S.: 17.2% |
32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| South Eliot and Newington 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% |
62.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$145,833±$46kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$99,299±$9k 23% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Newington 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. |
$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
$475,600±$52k 43% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
$2,155±$292 53% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
| Newington and South Eliot 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 221% above U.S. |
$6,081 95% above U.S. |
$4,442Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.9%±44 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±29.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and South Eliot 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% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 12% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Newington 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 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.