Compare towns
Lebanon vs Meredith vs White River Junction vs Wilder
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 highest household income ($98k).
Meredith has the most expensive homes ($480k median).
White River Junction has the most kids (17.1% under 18).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Meredith | White River Junction | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999Highest |
6,758 |
3,364 |
3,087Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
| Meredith 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% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| White River Junction and Lebanon 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% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith and Wilder 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% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest 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±$10kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Lebanon and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,149Highest 161% above U.S. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
$5,505 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Meredith 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
15 min 42% below U.S. |
17 min 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | — | — |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | Inter-Lakes High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.