Compare towns
Lebanon vs Windham vs Bow 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).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Bow has the oldest population (median age 41.5).
Dover has the youngest population (median age 36.9).
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 | Windham | Bow | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
16,038 |
8,335Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
41.5±2Highest 4% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Bow and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.5% NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 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 |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$172,857±$16k 75% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
| Windham and Bow 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 |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,149Lowest 22% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Windham and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon and Bow 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Windham School District | Bow School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | Windham High School | Bow High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
12.8Highest |
12.7 |
| 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.