Compare towns
Durham vs Exeter vs Lebanon vs Henniker
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 45.8).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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.
| Measure | Durham | Exeter | Lebanon | Henniker |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681 |
16,151Highest |
14,999 |
6,197Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
31.1±6.1 28% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
15.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Exeter and Henniker are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±6 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
41.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
27%±6.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25kHighest 13% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$95,206±$21kLowest 4% below NH |
| Durham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$356,700±$49kLowest 11% below NH |
| Durham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
| Exeter and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$8,149Lowest 22% above NH |
$8,877 33% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.5%±22.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
11.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 36% below NH |
25 minHighest 7% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
20 min 24% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon and Exeter 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH | #56 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Lebanon School District | Henniker School District |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | Lebanon High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
11.7Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 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.