Compare towns
Lebanon vs Plainfield vs Kensington 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 people working from home (22.8%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
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 | Plainfield | Kensington | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999Highest |
2,522 |
2,009Lowest |
3,087 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
38.9±6.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.3±5.9 11% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Wilder and Kensington 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% |
17.1%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Kensington 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% |
19.8%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2.9Lowest 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% |
48.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.3Lowest 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±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$122,656±$13k 52% above U.S. |
$165,083±$18kHighest 104% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47k 33% above U.S. |
$657,700±$47kHighest 98% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,813±$627Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Kensington and Lebanon 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. |
$9,637Highest 209% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.8%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lebanon and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest 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. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above 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% |
19.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon and Kensington 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 | — | — |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Plainfield School District | Kensington School District | — |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
— | — | — |
| 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.