Compare towns
Eliot vs Bow 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
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Eliot | Bow | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
8,335 |
14,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Bow and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon and Bow 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #26 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Bow School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
11.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.