Compare towns
Lebanon vs Plymouth vs Bow 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).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Plymouth | Bow | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999Highest |
6,601 |
8,335 |
3,364Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
24.6±3.4Lowest 37% below U.S. |
41.5±2Highest 7% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2 13% below U.S. |
| Bow and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and White River Junction 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% |
12%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lebanon and Bow 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% |
54% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
33.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$77,027±$26kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$292,400±$22k 12% below U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,108±$255Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
| Lebanon and Bow 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. |
$6,288 102% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 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% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
56.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
15 min 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon and Bow 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Bow School District | — |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | Plymouth Regional High School | Bow High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| 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.