Compare towns
Lebanon vs Durham vs Ashland 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 most renters (48.8% rent).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Ashland has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
15,080Highest |
2,183Lowest |
3,087 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
42.3±11.2 9% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Wilder and Ashland 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Ashland 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% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$54,607±$9kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$75,143±$9k 7% below U.S. |
| 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 16% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$227,000±$29kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,096±$155Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,149 161% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,961Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$5,505 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.1%±14.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
21.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
17 min 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | 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.