Compare towns
Lebanon vs Durham vs Ashland
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Ashland has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Lebanon | Durham | Ashland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,999 |
15,080Highest |
2,183Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average |
| Ashland and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland 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% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below 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±$29k 4% below NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,149 22% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1% NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest 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 | Ashland School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
12.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.