Compare towns
Lebanon vs Lyme vs Brookline
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 most renters (48.8% rent).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Lyme | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,999Highest |
1,710Lowest |
5,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
| Lyme and Brookline 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% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Lyme 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% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
| Lebanon and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
| Lyme and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
| Brookline and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,149Lowest 22% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Brookline 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 | — | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Lyme School District | Brookline School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.