Compare towns
Exeter vs Eliot vs Bedford 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
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Eliot | Bedford | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
7,146Lowest |
23,746Highest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
45±2.2 16% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Eliot and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 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+ | 59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
63%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26kHighest 84% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132Lowest 23% above U.S. |
| Bedford and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 183% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$9,803Highest 214% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #7 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Bedford School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Bedford High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | 13.5Highest |
11.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.