Compare towns
Lebanon vs Lyme vs Wilder 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).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Dover has the youngest population (median age 36.9).
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 | Wilder | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
1,710Lowest |
3,087 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Lyme and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme 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% |
26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder 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 22% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Dover 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% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
17 min 37% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme 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 | — | — | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Lyme School District | — | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | None in town | — | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
— | — | 12.7Highest |
| 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.