Compare towns
Hanover vs Canaan vs Durham 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
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% 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 | Hanover | Canaan | Durham | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,479 |
3,811Lowest |
15,080Highest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3 50% below NH |
44.4±3.7Highest about the NH average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
| Canaan and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Canaan and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
19.1%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4% NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 49.8%±2.5 NH: 6% |
7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Durham and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
$81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
| Hanover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,985Lowest 10% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±17.4 NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8% NH: 7.2% |
13.6% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% NH: 72.8% |
77.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 29% below NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #83 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | — | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Oyster River High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
12.3Highest |
11.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.