Compare towns
Durham vs Norwich vs Stratham 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).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
Stratham has the most homeowners (92.6%).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
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 | Norwich | Stratham | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
3,640Lowest |
7,754 |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Highest 7% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
| Stratham and Norwich 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% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Stratham 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% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lebanon and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Norwich 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. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
$8,149Lowest 161% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Stratham 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% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham 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 | #1 of 70 in VT | #43 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Norwich School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham 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 |
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.