Compare towns
Exeter vs Durham vs Lebanon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Exeter | Durham | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
10,681Lowest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Exeter and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 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+ | 59.2% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$112,070±$25kHighest 13% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
| Durham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% 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 | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
| Exeter and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,149Lowest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest 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 | 4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 7% below NH |
17 min 36% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #9 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 | 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.