Compare towns
Durham 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
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Exeter has the most kids (17% under 18).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681 |
16,151Highest |
14,999 |
3,087Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1 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 | 6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest 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+ | 75.4%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 | 70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| 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 50% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| 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 8% below 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 | $10,000+Highest at least 221% 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 | 55.4%±19.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 35% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
17 min 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 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 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 | — |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Lebanon School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | Lebanon High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
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.