Compare towns
Lebanon vs Sunapee vs Meredith 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).
Sunapee has the highest household income ($101k).
Meredith has the most expensive homes ($480k median).
Dover has the most kids (16.9% under 18).
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 | Sunapee | Meredith | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
3,416Lowest |
6,758 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Sunapee and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Dover and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
33.3%±7.1 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Sunapee 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% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest 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 |
$101,393±$20kHighest about the NH average |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Sunapee 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±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$393,000±$51k about the NH average |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Meredith and Dover 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 |
$1,713±$451 15% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Lebanon and Sunapee 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 |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Dover and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Lebanon 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 | #14 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Sunapee School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | Sunapee Sr. High School | Inter-Lakes High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
11.9 |
11.1Lowest |
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.