Compare towns
Lebanon vs Plaistow vs Somersworth vs Dover
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 the shortest commute (14 min average).
Plaistow has the most homeowners (78.1%).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($437k 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 | Plaistow | Somersworth | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
7,861Lowest |
12,111 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
40.1±3.7Highest 7% below NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Plaistow 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% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Somersworth 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 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| 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 NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Lebanon and Dover 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 |
$108,317±$13kHighest 9% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| 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 4% below NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
| Dover and Plaistow 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 |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,477±$134Lowest about the NH average |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Lebanon and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,149 22% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Somersworth and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
57.8% NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon and Dover 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 | #117 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Somersworth School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | Timberlane Regional High School | Somersworth High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
11.4Lowest |
11.4Lowest |
12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.