Compare towns
Lebanon vs Eliot vs Durham vs Hartford
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 shortest commute (14 min average).
Eliot has the most homeowners (79.8%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k 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.
| Measure | Lebanon | Eliot | Durham | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
7,146Lowest |
15,080Highest |
10,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Hartford 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% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hartford and Eliot 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% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Hartford 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% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Durham and Eliot 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. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Durham and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Lebanon 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. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,773 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 15% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #9 of 120 in NH | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lebanon School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Oyster River Coop School District | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | None in town | Oyster River High School | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
— | 12.3Highest |
9.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.