Compare towns
Lebanon vs Hanover vs Milford 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).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Hanover | Milford | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
11,685Lowest |
16,337 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1Highest 10% below NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
36.8±2.5 15% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.5% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,149 22% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,522Lowest 13% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Milford School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | Hanover High School | Milford High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
10.7Lowest |
10.7Lowest |
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.