Compare towns
Lebanon vs Bow vs Pelham 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).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Pelham has the most expensive homes ($553k median).
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 | Bow | Pelham | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999Highest |
8,335 |
14,449 |
3,364Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
41.5±2Highest 7% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Highest 7% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Pelham 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% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lebanon and Bow 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% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon and Pelham 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. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19k 68% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Pelham and Bow 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. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Lebanon and Bow 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. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
15 min 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #29 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Bow School District | Pelham School District | — |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | Bow High School | Pelham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
12.8Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.