Compare towns
Lebanon vs Plainfield vs White River Junction vs Hartford
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).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Hartford has the oldest population (median age 43.2).
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 | White River Junction | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999Highest |
2,522Lowest |
3,364 |
10,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
38.9±6.5 about the U.S. average |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
43.2±3.9Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Hartford 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% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Plainfield and Hartford 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford 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% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% 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% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon and Hartford 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±$13kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$78,125±$7k 3% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$442,400±$47kHighest 33% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
| 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 23% above U.S. |
$1,674±$181 18% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,218±$118Lowest 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 | $8,149Highest 161% above U.S. |
$7,904 153% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
$5,773 85% 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% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hartford and White River Junction 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
22 minHighest 17% below U.S. |
15 min 42% below U.S. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±8.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Plainfield School District | — | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | None in town | — | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Highest |
— | — | 9.6Lowest |
| 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.