Compare towns
Exeter vs Durham vs Bedford 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 20.8).
Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Bedford | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
15,080 |
23,746Highest |
14,999Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
| Exeter and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 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% |
63% NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
| Bedford and Exeter 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 |
$9,803 47% above NH |
$8,149Lowest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
19 min 27% below NH |
25 minHighest 5% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Bedford School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Oyster River High School | Bedford High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
12.3 |
13.5Highest |
11.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | 51 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.