Compare towns
Durham vs Exeter vs White River Junction vs Lebanon
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 homeowners (69.1%).
White River Junction has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Lebanon has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | White River Junction | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681 |
16,151Highest |
3,364Lowest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2 13% below U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| White River Junction and Exeter 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%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above 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. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above 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. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,744±$132 23% above 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. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% 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% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest 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% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 min 35% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
15 min 42% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest 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.