Compare towns

Lebanon vs Henniker vs Hartford vs Dover

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 shortest commute (14 min average).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k 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.

MeasureLebanonHennikerHartfordDover
People
Population
14,999
6,197Lowest
10,736
33,364Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+27.9%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.9±3.1
about the U.S. average
31.1±6.1Lowest
20% below U.S.
43.2±3.9Highest
11% above U.S.
36.9±1.9
5% below U.S.
Hartford 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
U.S.: 22%
15.3%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
18%±3Highest
U.S.: 22%
16.9%±1.8
U.S.: 22%
Hartford 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
U.S.: 17.2%
16.5%±6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.5%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
16.8%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Hartford 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
U.S.: 35.7%
41.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
47.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
52%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
27%±6.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.2%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$98,147±$10kHighest
22% above U.S.
$95,206±$21k
18% above U.S.
$78,125±$7kLowest
3% below U.S.
$94,829±$7k
17% above U.S.
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
16% above U.S.
$356,700±$49k
7% above U.S.
$304,500±$26kLowest
8% below U.S.
$436,700±$20kHighest
31% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,744±$132Highest
23% above U.S.
$1,081±$164Lowest
23% below U.S.
$1,218±$118
14% below U.S.
$1,607±$100
14% above U.S.
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
161% above U.S.
$8,877Highest
185% above U.S.
$5,773Lowest
85% above U.S.
$8,249
164% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.9%±7.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.5%±22.6
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±12.7
U.S.: 51.1%
48.6%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Dover and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
51.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
64.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
52.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1974Lowest
6 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
14 minLowest
47% below U.S.
20 min
23% below U.S.
18 min
30% below U.S.
23 minHighest
14% below U.S.
Work from home
22.8%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.5%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
13.9%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
18.6%±2.5
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #34 of 70 in VT #64 of 120 in NH
School district Lebanon School District Henniker School District Hartford School District Dover School District
High school in town Lebanon High School None in town Hartford High School Dover Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school
11.7
—
9.6Lowest
12.7Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.