Compare towns

Hartford vs Lebanon vs Lee

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Lebanon has the most renters (48.8% rent).
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).

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.

MeasureHartfordLebanonLee
People
Population
10,736
14,999Highest
4,576Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.2±3.9Highest
11% above U.S.
38.9±3.1Lowest
about the U.S. average
42.9±1.9
10% above U.S.
Hartford and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18%±3
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.9%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Lee and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.5%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
21.4%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Lee and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
47.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
57.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
50.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.9%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.4%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Lebanon and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$78,125±$7kLowest
3% below U.S.
$98,147±$10k
22% above U.S.
$131,579±$54kHighest
63% above U.S.
Lee and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$304,500±$26kLowest
8% below U.S.
$385,400±$29k
16% above U.S.
$480,600±$61kHighest
44% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,218±$118Lowest
14% below U.S.
$1,744±$132Highest
23% above U.S.
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,773Lowest
85% above U.S.
$8,149
161% above U.S.
$9,661Highest
210% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.6%±12.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.9%±7.2
U.S.: 51.1%
38.3%±53.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hartford and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.6%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
67.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
51.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
95.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 min
30% below U.S.
14 minLowest
47% below U.S.
28 minHighest
4% above U.S.
Work from home
13.9%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±4.3
U.S.: 15.1%
27.6%±8.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Lee 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 #34 of 70 in VT #29 of 120 in NH #3 of 120 in NH
School district Hartford School District Lebanon School District Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town Hartford High School Lebanon High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
9.6Lowest
11.7Highest
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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.