Compare towns
Lebanon vs Kensington vs White River Junction vs Hartford
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 most people working from home (22.8%).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Hartford has the most kids (18% under 18).
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 | Kensington | White River Junction | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999Highest |
2,009Lowest |
3,364 |
10,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
43.3±5.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
| Kensington and Hartford 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% |
17.1%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hartford and Kensington 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% |
18.8%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3Highest 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% |
48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon and Hartford 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 22% above U.S. |
$165,083±$18kHighest 104% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$657,700±$47kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
$1,813±$627Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Kensington and Lebanon 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. |
$9,637Highest 209% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
$5,773 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hartford and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
15 min 42% below U.S. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon and Kensington 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 | — | — | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Kensington School District | — | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | None in town | — | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
— | — | 9.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.