Compare towns

Plymouth vs Durham vs Hampton Falls vs Lebanon

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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.

MeasurePlymouthDurhamHampton FallsLebanon
People
Population
6,601
15,080Highest
2,328Lowest
14,999
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.4%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+5.8%
NH: +4.6%
+7.5%
NH: +4.6%
+8.6%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
24.6±3.4
43% below NH
20.8±0.3Lowest
52% below NH
49.5±7.3Highest
14% above NH
38.9±3.1
10% below NH
Kids under 18
13.6%±3.6
NH: 18.2%
10.3%±2.1Lowest
NH: 18.2%
19.1%±5.6Highest
NH: 18.2%
14.6%±2.4
NH: 18.2%
Hampton Falls and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
12%±2.7
NH: 20.1%
11.5%±1.6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
25%±3.6Highest
NH: 20.1%
21.4%±2.6
NH: 20.1%
Hampton Falls and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
75.4%Highest
NH: 40.6%
54.5%
NH: 40.6%
57.5%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
33.7%±3.5
NH: 6%
55.1%±3.2Highest
NH: 6%
3.8%±2.1Lowest
NH: 6%
6.9%±2.6
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$77,027±$26kLowest
22% below NH
$124,056±$21k
25% above NH
$166,157±$14kHighest
68% above NH
$98,147±$10k
about the NH average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$292,400±$22kLowest
27% below NH
$504,300±$41k
25% above NH
$772,600±$76kHighest
92% above NH
$385,400±$29k
4% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,108±$255Lowest
26% below NH
$1,429±$143
4% below NH
$1,852±$475Highest
24% above NH
$1,744±$132
17% above NH
Hampton Falls and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,288Lowest
6% below NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$8,149
22% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.8%±11.6
NH: 48.2%
66.4%±16Highest
NH: 48.2%
27.2%±22.7Lowest
NH: 48.2%
41.9%±7.2
NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line
18.6%Highest
NH: 7.2%
15.1%
NH: 7.2%
4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
7%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
56.3%
NH: 72.8%
64.4%
NH: 72.8%
86.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
51.2%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
2 yrs newer than NH
1981Highest
2 yrs newer than NH
1981Highest
2 yrs newer than NH
1980Lowest
1 yr newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 min
31% below NH
19 min
27% below NH
32 minHighest
21% above NH
14 minLowest
48% below NH
Work from home
11.7%±3.6Lowest
NH: 16.8%
19.4%±3.5
NH: 16.8%
21.8%±4.8
NH: 16.8%
22.8%±4.3Highest
NH: 16.8%
Lebanon and Hampton Falls 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 #47 of 120 in NH #9 of 120 in NH — #29 of 120 in NH
School district Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District Oyster River Coop School District Hampton Falls School District Lebanon School District
High school in town Plymouth Regional High School Oyster River High School None in town Lebanon High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
12.3
—
11.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 51 photos → 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.