What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).

Peterborough has the oldest population (median age 52.1).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lebanon	Peterborough
People
Population	14,999Highest	6,408Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	+2.1%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH	52.1±1.9Highest 20% above NH
Kids under 18	14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2%	16.3%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2%
	Peterborough and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1%	30.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%	62.2%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6%	2%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average	$98,401±$8kHighest about the NH average
	Peterborough and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH	$404,500±$31kHighest about the NH average
	Peterborough and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH	$1,395±$209Lowest 6% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,149Lowest 22% above NH	$8,655Highest 30% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±7.2Highest NH: 48.2%	29.2%±7.4Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Lebanon and Peterborough 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%	5.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%	56.3%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH	1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	14 minLowest 48% below NH	23 minHighest 16% below NH
Work from home	22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8%	15.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Lebanon and Peterborough 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	#59 of 120 in NH
School district	Lebanon School District	Contoocook Valley School District
High school in town	Lebanon High School	Conval Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Lowest	12.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.