Compare towns
Lebanon vs Plainfield vs Lee vs White River Junction
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 shortest commute (14 min average).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
White River Junction has the most affordable homes ($279k 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 | Lee | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999Highest |
2,522Lowest |
4,576 |
3,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%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 |
42.9±1.9Highest 10% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Lee 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Lee 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% |
22.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lee 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon and Lee 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. |
$131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Lee 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. |
$480,600±$61kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Lee 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. |
— | $1,222±$216Lowest 14% 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. |
$9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% 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% |
38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| White River Junction and Lebanon 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% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
22 min 17% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
15 min 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #3 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 | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 10 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.