Compare towns
Lebanon vs Plainfield vs Hillsborough
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%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Hillsborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,999Highest |
2,522Lowest |
5,980 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
40.9±4.6Highest 6% below NH |
| Hillsborough and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lebanon and Plainfield 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 about the NH average |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
| Plainfield 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 |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
| Lebanon and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,149Highest 22% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hillsborough and Lebanon 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% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon and Plainfield 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 | #97 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Plainfield School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | None in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.