What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).

Royalton has the most affordable homes ($263k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lebanon	Royalton
People
Population	14,999Highest	2,752Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average	43.9±10.1Highest 13% above U.S.
	Royalton and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.6%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%	14.4%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lebanon and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	22.1%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Royalton 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%	42.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Royalton and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$98,147±$10kLowest 22% above U.S.	$103,938±$24kHighest 29% above U.S.
	Royalton 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±$29kHighest 16% above U.S.	$263,200±$73kLowest 21% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S.	$1,040±$391Lowest 26% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,149Highest 161% above U.S.	$4,675Lowest 50% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±7.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	36.7%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lebanon and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	13%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	63.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	14 minLowest 47% below U.S.	20 minHighest 23% below U.S.
Work from home	22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	17.8%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lebanon and Royalton 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	#48 of 70 in VT
School district	Lebanon School District	White River Unified School District #79
High school in town	Lebanon High School	White River Valley High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Highest	8.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.