Compare towns
Durham vs South Hooksett vs Hanover 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).
South Hooksett has the most homeowners (82.9%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k 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 | South Hooksett | Hanover | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
5,902Lowest |
11,685 |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+8.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
35.2±3.6 19% below NH |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
38.9±3.1Highest 10% below NH |
| Lebanon and South Hooksett 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% |
16.3%±3.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| South Hooksett 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 NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4% NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$130,000±$15k 31% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
| Hanover and South Hooksett 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 |
$433,200±$40k 8% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,471±$217 about the NH average |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,801Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
20 min 27% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover 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 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | — | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | — | Hanover High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
11.7 |
| 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.