Compare towns
Lebanon vs Windham vs Bow 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 shortest commute (14 min average).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Bow has the oldest population (median age 41.5).
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 | Windham | Bow | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
16,038Highest |
8,335 |
3,364Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
41.5±2Highest 7% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon and Bow 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. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16k 114% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| 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±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34k 52% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,149 161% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$9,584 207% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
15 min 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Windham School District | Bow School District | — |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | Windham High School | Bow High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
12.8Highest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.