Compare towns
Lebanon vs Henniker vs Ashland 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).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($437k median).
Henniker is a college town. 27% 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 | Henniker | Ashland | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
6,197 |
2,183Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH |
42.3±11.2Highest about the NH average |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
| Ashland 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% |
15.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Dover 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% |
16.5%±6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.8%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Ashland and Lebanon 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% |
41.4% NH: 40.6% |
35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
27%±6.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10kHighest about the NH average |
$95,206±$21k 4% below NH |
$54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Lebanon and Henniker 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 |
$356,700±$49k 11% below NH |
$227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,096±$155 26% 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 |
$8,877Highest 33% above NH |
$4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
43.5%±22.6 NH: 48.2% |
39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Henniker 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% |
11.6% NH: 7.2% |
21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.1% NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
20 min 24% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±4.6Lowest 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 | #56 of 120 in NH | — | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Henniker School District | Ashland School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | None in town | None in town | 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 | 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.