Compare towns
Lebanon vs Ashland vs Durham vs White River Junction
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lebanon has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Ashland has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Lebanon | Ashland | Durham | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
2,183Lowest |
15,080Highest |
3,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
42.3±11.2Highest 9% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
33.7±3.2 13% below U.S. |
| Ashland and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Ashland and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashland and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$54,607±$9kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
| Durham and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$227,000±$29kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,096±$155Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,149 161% above U.S. |
$4,961Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±14.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
15 min 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon and Durham 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | — | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Ashland School District | Oyster River Coop School District | — |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | None in town | Oyster River High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
— | 12.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | None yet |
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.