Compare towns
Lebanon vs Grafton 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).
Grafton has the most homeowners (83.1%).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
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 | Grafton | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,999 |
1,354Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+3.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
43.1±10.6Highest about the NH average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Grafton and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Grafton 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 NH: 20.1% |
21%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
24.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.5%±2.8Lowest 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±$10kHighest about the NH average |
$81,563±$22kLowest 18% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Lebanon and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$267,300±$23kLowest 34% below NH |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,243±$163Lowest 17% below NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| 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 22% above NH |
$5,239Lowest 21% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±34.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr 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 |
43 minHighest 62% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±6.8 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon and Grafton 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | — | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | — | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
— | 12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.