Compare towns
Lebanon vs Holderness vs Durham 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).
Holderness has the most homeowners (83.7%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Dover has the most kids (16.9% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Holderness | Durham | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
1,917Lowest |
15,080 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% NH: +4.6% |
-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
39.4±7.4Highest 9% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
| Holderness and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Holderness 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% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.5% NH: 40.6% |
55.7% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
| Durham and Holderness 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 |
$363,100±$60kLowest 10% below NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Holderness and Lebanon 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 |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Dover 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% |
12.1% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
19 min 27% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon and Durham 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Holderness School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | None in town | Oyster River High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
— | 12.3 |
12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.