Compare towns
Lebanon vs Durham vs Hopkinton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lebanon has the most affordable homes ($385k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Hopkinton has the most homeowners (87.3%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Durham | Hopkinton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,999Highest |
10,681 |
6,037Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
45±2.8Highest 4% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.8%±4.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hopkinton and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.9%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
58.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$137,477±$21kHighest 39% above NH |
| Hopkinton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$506,900±$54kHighest 26% above NH |
| Hopkinton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,270±$129Lowest 15% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,149Lowest 22% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Hopkinton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
53.6% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
17 min 36% below NH |
22 minHighest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hopkinton and Lebanon 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 | #28 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | — | Hopkinton School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | — | Hopkinton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
— | 12.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.