Compare towns
Lebanon vs Plainfield vs Durham 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 most renters (48.8% rent).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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.
| Measure | Lebanon | Plainfield | Durham | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
2,522Lowest |
15,080Highest |
3,087 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Wilder and Lebanon 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Durham and Plainfield 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. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Durham and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Lebanon and Plainfield 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. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 17% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
17 min 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon and Durham 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Plainfield School District | Oyster River Coop School District | — |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | None in town | Oyster River High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
— | 12.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.