Compare towns
Hampton vs Lebanon vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Dover has the most kids (16.9% under 18).
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 | Hampton | Lebanon | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,426 |
14,999Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Lebanon and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$98,147±$10kHighest about the NH average |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
| Lebanon and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
| Lebanon and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 3% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon and Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Lebanon School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Lebanon High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
11.7 |
12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.