Compare towns
Durham vs Ripton vs Putney 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).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Putney has the most affordable homes ($300k median).
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 | Ripton | Putney | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
508Lowest |
2,622 |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
47.7±14.2Highest 23% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2 4% below U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
| Ripton 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% |
11.8%±6.3 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Putney and Lebanon 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% |
30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton 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% |
48%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.1%±6.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$112,917±$15k 40% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
| Durham and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
— | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 9% below U.S. |
18 min 32% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±8.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest 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 | — | #32 of 70 in VT | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 History | 51 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.