Compare towns
Lebanon vs Durham vs Brentwood vs Dover
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 shortest commute (14 min average).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Brentwood has the most homeowners (96%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Brentwood | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
15,080 |
4,641Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
43.8±3.1Highest about the NH average |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
| Brentwood 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%±4.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Brentwood and Dover 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% |
21.8%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Brentwood 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% |
49%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
| Brentwood 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 |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$528,100±$75kHighest 31% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Brentwood and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Brentwood and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,149Lowest 22% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,713 46% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Brentwood 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 | #16 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Brentwood School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | Oyster River High School | None in town | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
12.3 |
— | 12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 6 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.