Compare towns
Lebanon vs Hopkinton vs Hillsborough 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).
Hopkinton has the highest household income ($137k).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Hopkinton | Hillsborough | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
6,037 |
5,980Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
45±2.8Highest 4% above NH |
40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Hopkinton and Hillsborough 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% |
18.8%±4.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Hopkinton and Hillsborough 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% |
19.9%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon and Hopkinton 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% |
58.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
7.9%±4.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Hopkinton and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$137,477±$21kHighest 39% above NH |
$84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$506,900±$54kHighest 26% above NH |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Hopkinton and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,270±$129 15% below NH |
$1,198±$390Lowest 20% 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
42.4%±6 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Hillsborough and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% NH: 7.2% |
6.5% NH: 7.2% |
6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
23.8%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Hopkinton 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 | #28 of 120 in NH | #97 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Hopkinton School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | Hopkinton High School | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
12.0 |
9.5Lowest |
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.