Compare towns
Lebanon vs Swanzey 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%).
Swanzey has the most homeowners (71.7%).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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 | Swanzey | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,999Highest |
7,398 |
3,364Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
50±3.1Highest 29% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Swanzey 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%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Swanzey 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% |
30.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$81,595±$11k about the U.S. average |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Lebanon and Swanzey 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. |
$259,200±$15kLowest 22% below U.S. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
| Lebanon and White River Junction 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. |
$1,508±$303 7% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Lebanon and Swanzey 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. |
$5,558Lowest 78% above U.S. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Swanzey and White River Junction 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% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
15 min 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.3%±4Lowest 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 | #102 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Monadnock Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | Monadnock Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| 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.