Compare towns

Lebanon vs Durham vs White River Junction vs Dover

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 people working from home (22.8%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
White River Junction has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
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.

MeasureLebanonDurhamWhite River JunctionDover
People
Population
14,999
15,080
3,364Lowest
33,364Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.9±3.1Highest
about the U.S. average
20.8±0.3Lowest
47% below U.S.
33.7±3.2
13% below U.S.
36.9±1.9
5% below U.S.
Lebanon and Dover 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%
17.1%±5Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±1.8
U.S.: 22%
White River Junction and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.4%±2.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
11.5%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
12.5%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
16.8%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
57.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
75.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
38.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
52%
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%
1.2%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$98,147±$10k
22% above U.S.
$124,056±$21kHighest
54% above U.S.
$77,168±$4kLowest
4% below U.S.
$94,829±$7k
17% above 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.
$278,800±$78kLowest
16% below U.S.
$436,700±$20k
31% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,744±$132Highest
23% above U.S.
$1,429±$143
about the U.S. average
$1,222±$216Lowest
14% below U.S.
$1,607±$100
14% above U.S.
Lebanon and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,149
161% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$5,651Lowest
81% above U.S.
$8,249
164% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.9%±7.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
66.4%±16Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.9%±17.3
U.S.: 51.1%
48.6%±6.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Durham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
15.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
51.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
64.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
43.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
52.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
same as U.S.
1981Highest
1 yr newer than U.S.
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
14 minLowest
47% below U.S.
19 min
27% below U.S.
15 min
42% below U.S.
23 minHighest
14% below U.S.
Work from home
22.8%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.4%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
15.7%±5.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±2.5
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 — #64 of 120 in NH
School district Lebanon School District Oyster River Coop School District — Dover School District
High school in town Lebanon High School Oyster River High School — Dover Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.7Lowest
12.3
—
12.7Highest
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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.