Compare towns
Bow vs Exeter vs Lebanon vs Wilder
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 45.8).
Lebanon has the most renters (48.8% rent).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Bow | Exeter | Lebanon | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,335 |
16,151Highest |
14,999 |
3,087Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Bow and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
17 min 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Bow School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Lebanon School District | — |
| High school in town | Bow High School | Exeter High School | Lebanon High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.1 |
11.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.