Compare towns

Plymouth vs Rumney vs Lebanon vs Ashland

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 youngest population (median age 24.6).
Rumney has the most homeowners (77.8%).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
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.

MeasurePlymouthRumneyLebanonAshland
People
Population
6,601
1,458Lowest
14,999Highest
2,183
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-4.4%
NH: +4.6%
+1.2%
NH: +4.6%
+8.6%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-6.6%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
24.6±3.4Lowest
43% below NH
44.5±2.3Highest
about the NH average
38.9±3.1
10% below NH
42.3±11.2
about the NH average
Rumney and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.6%±3.6Lowest
NH: 18.2%
18.7%±4.3
NH: 18.2%
14.6%±2.4
NH: 18.2%
21.4%±6.4Highest
NH: 18.2%
Ashland and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
12%±2.7Lowest
NH: 20.1%
24.1%±3.7
NH: 20.1%
21.4%±2.6
NH: 20.1%
25.8%±5.3Highest
NH: 20.1%
Ashland and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
54%
NH: 40.6%
41.9%
NH: 40.6%
57.5%Highest
NH: 40.6%
35.9%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
33.7%±3.5Highest
NH: 6%
4.9%±2.3
NH: 6%
6.9%±2.6
NH: 6%
2.7%±1.7Lowest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$77,027±$26k
22% below NH
$79,444±$21k
20% below NH
$98,147±$10kHighest
about the NH average
$54,607±$9kLowest
45% below NH
Lebanon and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$292,400±$22k
27% below NH
$309,800±$37k
23% below NH
$385,400±$29kHighest
4% below NH
$227,000±$29kLowest
44% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,108±$255
26% below NH
$1,064±$100Lowest
29% below NH
$1,744±$132Highest
17% above NH
$1,096±$155
26% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,288
6% below NH
$4,716Lowest
29% below NH
$8,149Highest
22% above NH
$4,961
26% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
33.8%±11.6Lowest
NH: 48.2%
48.1%±21.3Highest
NH: 48.2%
41.9%±7.2
NH: 48.2%
39.1%±14.8
NH: 48.2%
Rumney and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
18.6%
NH: 7.2%
10.4%
NH: 7.2%
7%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
21.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
56.3%
NH: 72.8%
77.8%Highest
NH: 72.8%
51.2%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
64.1%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
2 yrs newer than NH
1976Lowest
3 yrs older than NH
1980
1 yr newer than NH
1978
1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
18 min
31% below NH
33 minHighest
22% above NH
14 minLowest
48% below NH
26 min
4% below NH
Work from home
11.7%±3.6
NH: 16.8%
14.4%±7
NH: 16.8%
22.8%±4.3Highest
NH: 16.8%
9.9%±4.6Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Lebanon and Rumney 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 — #29 of 120 in NH —
School district Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District Rumney School District Lebanon School District Ashland School District
High school in town Plymouth Regional High School None in town Lebanon High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8Highest
—
11.7Lowest
—
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.