Compare towns
Lebanon vs Thornton vs Rumney 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).
Thornton has the most people working from home (29.8%).
Rumney has the most affordable homes ($310k median).
Dover has the most expensive homes ($437k 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 | Thornton | Rumney | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
2,799 |
1,458Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+8.8% NH: +4.6% |
+1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
44.5±2.3 about the NH average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Rumney and Dover 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% |
19%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
24.1%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Rumney 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 NH: 40.6% |
46.3% NH: 40.6% |
41.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2.3 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±$10kHighest about the NH average |
$90,022±$17k 9% below NH |
$79,444±$21kLowest 20% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Lebanon and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$351,900±$20k 13% below NH |
$309,800±$37kLowest 23% below NH |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,270±$428 15% below NH |
$1,064±$100Lowest 29% below NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Lebanon and Dover 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 |
$5,032 25% below NH |
$4,716Lowest 29% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.1%±21.3 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Thornton and Dover 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% |
9.2% NH: 7.2% |
10.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
77.8% NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.4%±7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton 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 | #18 of 120 in NH | — | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Thornton School District | Rumney School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | None in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
— | — | 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.