Compare towns

Lebanon vs Dover vs Norwich vs Wilder

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).
Dover has the youngest population (median age 36.9).
Norwich has the most expensive homes ($638k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).

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.

MeasureLebanonDoverNorwichWilder
People
Population
14,999
33,364Highest
3,640
3,087Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+81.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.9±3.1
about the U.S. average
36.9±1.9Lowest
5% below U.S.
40.8±3.2
5% above U.S.
45.5±8.9Highest
17% above U.S.
Wilder and Norwich 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%
16.9%±1.8
U.S.: 22%
24%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
21.4%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
16.8%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
16%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.3%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Wilder 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%
52%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
81%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
60.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
8.1%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Wilder 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.
$94,829±$7k
17% above U.S.
$140,313±$12kHighest
74% above U.S.
$75,143±$9kLowest
7% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$385,400±$29k
16% above U.S.
$436,700±$20k
31% above U.S.
$637,500±$76kHighest
92% above U.S.
$273,200±$18kLowest
18% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,744±$132Highest
23% above U.S.
$1,607±$100
14% above U.S.
$1,460±$322
3% above U.S.
$1,142±$451Lowest
19% below U.S.
Lebanon and Dover 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.
$8,249
164% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$5,505Lowest
76% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.9%±7.2
U.S.: 51.1%
48.6%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
30.7%±19.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
39.9%±17.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Dover 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%
8.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
51.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
52.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
71.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
62.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
14 minLowest
47% below U.S.
23 minHighest
14% below U.S.
19 min
28% below U.S.
17 min
37% below U.S.
Work from home
22.8%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
21%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
12.6%±6.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Lebanon and Norwich 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 #64 of 120 in NH #1 of 70 in VT —
School district Lebanon School District Dover School District Norwich School District —
High school in town Lebanon High School Dover Senior High School None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school
11.7Lowest
12.7Highest
— —
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.