Compare towns
Eliot vs Exeter vs Lebanon vs Newfields
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Eliot | Exeter | Lebanon | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
16,151Highest |
14,999 |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Lebanon 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #22 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Lebanon School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Lebanon High School | None in town |
| 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.