Compare towns

Lebanon vs Milford vs Hanover

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

MeasureLebanonMilfordHanover
People
Population
14,999
16,337Highest
8,479Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.6%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+6.7%
NH: +4.6%
+5.1%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
38.9±3.1Highest
10% below NH
36.8±2.5
15% below NH
21.8±0.3Lowest
50% below NH
Lebanon and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.6%±2.4
NH: 18.2%
23.7%±3.6Highest
NH: 18.2%
9.8%±2.2Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Age 65+
21.4%±2.6Highest
NH: 20.1%
15.1%±1.9Lowest
NH: 20.1%
17.6%±3.2
NH: 20.1%
Lebanon and Hanover 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%
37.2%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
89.2%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.9%±2.6
NH: 6%
4.2%±1.3Lowest
NH: 6%
49.8%±2.5Highest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$98,147±$10k
about the NH average
$97,768±$14kLowest
about the NH average
$153,281±$26kHighest
55% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$385,400±$29kLowest
4% below NH
$398,800±$20k
about the NH average
$842,600±$97kHighest
109% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,744±$132
17% above NH
$1,661±$126Lowest
11% above NH
$2,254±$249Highest
51% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,149
22% above NH
$7,522Lowest
13% above NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.9%±7.2Lowest
NH: 48.2%
49.6%±15.8
NH: 48.2%
72%±17.4Highest
NH: 48.2%
Hanover and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7%
NH: 7.2%
3.9%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
8%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
51.2%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
64.9%Highest
NH: 72.8%
62.4%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
1 yr newer than NH
1982Highest
3 yrs newer than NH
1974Lowest
5 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
14 minLowest
48% below NH
27 minHighest
about the NH average
19 min
29% below NH
Work from home
22.8%±4.3
NH: 16.8%
15.6%±3.3Lowest
NH: 16.8%
26.7%±6Highest
NH: 16.8%
Hanover 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 #55 of 120 in NH #1 of 120 in NH
School district Lebanon School District Milford School District —
High school in town Lebanon High School Milford High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
11.7Highest
10.7Lowest
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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.