What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Townsend has the most homeowners (82%).

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	Townsend
People
Population	14,999Highest	9,100Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average	40.9±3.3Highest 5% above U.S.
	Townsend and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22%	21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	21.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Lebanon and Townsend 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%	35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Lebanon and Townsend 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.	$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S.
	Townsend 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 16% above U.S.	$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S.
	Townsend 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.	$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S.
	Lebanon and Townsend 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.	$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Townsend 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%	8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	82%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest same as U.S.	1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	14 minLowest 47% below U.S.	37 minHighest 41% above U.S.
Work from home	22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%	10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#29 of 120 in NH	#136 of 282 in MA
School district	Lebanon School District	North Middlesex
High school in town	Lebanon High School	North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Lowest	13.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.