Compare towns
Hanover vs Dunbarton vs Auburn 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 youngest population (median age 21.8).
Dunbarton has the oldest population (median age 48).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Dunbarton | Auburn | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,479 |
3,097Lowest |
6,119 |
14,999Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
| Dunbarton and Auburn 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% |
19.8%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Dunbarton and Auburn 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% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon and Dunbarton 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% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
| Hanover and Auburn 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 |
$484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
$600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,893±$822 27% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
| Hanover and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
$8,092Lowest 21% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 29% below NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Auburn 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Dunbarton School District | Auburn School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.