Compare towns
Lebanon vs Sunapee 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%).
Sunapee has the most homeowners (75.9%).
White River Junction has the most affordable homes ($279k 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 | Sunapee | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,999Highest |
3,416 |
3,364Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
56.7±1.4Highest 46% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| White River Junction 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.3%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon and Sunapee 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. |
$101,393±$20kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| 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±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$393,000±$51kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Sunapee 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. |
$1,713±$451 21% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Lebanon and Sunapee 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. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 24% above U.S. |
15 min 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon and White River Junction 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 | — |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Sunapee School District | — |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | Sunapee Sr. High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
11.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.