Compare towns

Hanover vs Henniker 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 ($825k median).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Lebanon has the oldest population (median age 38.9).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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.

MeasureHanoverHennikerDurhamLebanon
People
Population
11,685
6,197Lowest
10,681
14,999Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.4%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+27.9%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+7.8%
NH: +4.6%
+8.6%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
28.7±5.1
34% below NH
31.1±6.1
28% below NH
20.1±0.2Lowest
54% below NH
38.9±3.1Highest
10% below NH
Lebanon and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.4%±2.4
NH: 18.2%
15.3%±3.7Highest
NH: 18.2%
6.5%±2Lowest
NH: 18.2%
14.6%±2.4
NH: 18.2%
Henniker and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.7%±2.8
NH: 20.1%
16.5%±6
NH: 20.1%
7.5%±1.4Lowest
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+
88.2%Highest
NH: 40.6%
41.4%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
75.4%
NH: 40.6%
57.5%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
36.9%±2.4
NH: 6%
27%±6.5
NH: 6%
70.2%±1.6Highest
NH: 6%
6.9%±2.6Lowest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$169,583±$36kHighest
71% above NH
$95,206±$21kLowest
4% below NH
$112,070±$25k
13% 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
$824,900±$61kHighest
105% above NH
$356,700±$49kLowest
11% below NH
$498,000±$45k
24% above NH
$385,400±$29k
4% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,253±$217Highest
51% above NH
$1,081±$164Lowest
27% below NH
$1,302±$211
13% below NH
$1,744±$132
17% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$8,877
33% above NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$8,149Lowest
22% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
66.4%±17.5Highest
NH: 48.2%
43.5%±22.6
NH: 48.2%
55.4%±19.2
NH: 48.2%
41.9%±7.2Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Hanover and Durham 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%
11.6%
NH: 7.2%
12.4%Highest
NH: 7.2%
7%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
73.7%Highest
NH: 72.8%
64.5%
NH: 72.8%
53.6%
NH: 72.8%
51.2%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1976
3 yrs older than NH
1974
5 yrs older than NH
1973Lowest
6 yrs older than NH
1980Highest
1 yr newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
20 min
27% below NH
20 minHighest
24% below NH
17 min
36% below NH
14 minLowest
48% below NH
Work from home
26.4%±5Highest
NH: 16.8%
15.5%±5.6Lowest
NH: 16.8%
15.6%±3.3
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 #56 of 120 in NH #9 of 120 in NH #29 of 120 in NH
School district Dresden School District · Hanover School District Henniker School District — Lebanon School District
High school in town Hanover High School None in town — Lebanon High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.7Lowest
— —
11.7Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.