Compare towns
Lebanon vs Ashland vs Milford vs Hartford
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 affordable homes ($227k median).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Hartford has the most homeowners (67.8%).
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.
| Measure | Lebanon | Ashland | Milford | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
2,183Lowest |
16,337Highest |
10,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
42.3±11.2 9% above U.S. |
36.8±2.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Hartford and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Milford and Ashland 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% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashland and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$54,607±$9kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$97,768±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
| Lebanon and Milford 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. |
$398,800±$20kHighest 20% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
| Milford and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,096±$155Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,661±$126 18% above U.S. |
$1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
| Lebanon and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,149Highest 161% above U.S. |
$4,961Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$7,522 141% above U.S. |
$5,773 85% 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% |
49.6%±15.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Milford and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% U.S.: 12.5% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon and Milford 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 | — | #55 of 120 in NH | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Ashland School District | Milford School District | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | None in town | Milford High School | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
— | 10.7 |
9.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.