What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lebanon has the oldest population (median age 38.9).

Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).

Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lebanon	Durham
People
Population	14,999Lowest	15,080Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	38.9±3.1Highest 10% below NH	20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH
Kids under 18	14.6%±2.4Highest NH: 18.2%	10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Lebanon and Durham 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%	11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%	75.4%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.9%±2.6Lowest NH: 6%	55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average	$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH
	Durham and Lebanon 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	$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH	$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,149Lowest 22% above NH	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2%	66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line	7%Lowest NH: 7.2%	15.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%	64.4%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH	1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	14 minLowest 48% below NH	19 minHighest 27% below NH
Work from home	22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8%	19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Lebanon and Durham 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
School district	Lebanon School District	Oyster River Coop School District
High school in town	Lebanon High School	Oyster River High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Lowest	12.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	51 photos →

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.