Compare towns
Lebanon vs Franconia vs Newmarket 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).
Franconia has the most homeowners (83.1%).
Newmarket has the highest household income ($101k).
Dover has the most kids (16.9% under 18).
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 | Franconia | Newmarket | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
1,060Lowest |
9,463 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.2%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Newmarket 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% |
36.6%±6.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.5% NH: 40.6% |
57.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
5%±5.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Lebanon and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$87,292±$28kLowest 12% below NH |
$100,845±$13kHighest about the NH average |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Newmarket 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±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$530,300±$96kHighest 32% above NH |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Franconia and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,281±$278Lowest 14% below NH |
$1,671±$69 12% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Lebanon and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,149 22% above NH |
$7,451Lowest 12% above NH |
$8,734Highest 31% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% NH: 7.2% |
11.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.9% NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
20 min 25% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon and Dover 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 | — | #39 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Lafayette Regional School District | Newmarket School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | None in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
— | 9.9Lowest |
12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 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.