Compare towns
Lebanon vs Plaistow vs Pembroke 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 most people working from home (22.8%).
Plaistow has the most homeowners (78.1%).
Pembroke has the most kids (24% under 18).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | Plaistow | Pembroke | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999Highest |
7,861 |
7,438 |
3,364Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
40.1±3.7 3% above U.S. |
41.9±3.3Highest 8% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Pembroke and Plaistow 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% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
24%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Pembroke and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lebanon and Plaistow 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% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon and Pembroke 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. |
$108,317±$13kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$89,519±$22k 11% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Plaistow and Lebanon 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. |
$404,500±$32kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$371,500±$20k 12% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Plaistow 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. |
$1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
$1,218±$354Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
| Lebanon and Plaistow 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. |
$7,194 131% above U.S. |
$7,589 143% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±21.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Plaistow and Pembroke 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% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
15 min 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon and Pembroke 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Pembroke School District | — |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | Timberlane Regional High School | Pembroke Academy | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
11.4Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— |
| 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.