Compare towns
Lebanon vs Eliot vs Hanover 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).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Hanover has the highest household income ($170k).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Hanover | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999Highest |
7,146 |
11,685 |
3,087Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Wilder 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%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Eliot 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% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Wilder 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% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Hanover and Eliot 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. |
$5,505 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover 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% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 15% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
17 min 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lebanon School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | — |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | None in town | Hanover High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.