Compare towns
Lebanon vs Auburn vs Brookline 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 shortest commute (14 min average).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
White River Junction has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
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 | Auburn | Brookline | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999Highest |
6,119 |
5,736 |
3,364Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
44.3±5.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
41.2±1.5 6% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Auburn and Brookline 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% |
19.3%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Auburn and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$153,253±$6k 90% above U.S. |
$171,046±$4kHighest 112% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
$544,400±$38k 64% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Auburn and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
$1,893±$822 34% above U.S. |
$2,500±$1kHighest 77% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Brookline and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,149 161% above U.S. |
$8,092 159% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| White River Junction and Lebanon 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% |
2.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
15 min 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Auburn and Brookline 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 | #44 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Auburn School District | Brookline School District | — |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
— | — | — |
| 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.