Compare towns
Exeter vs Hampton Falls vs Lebanon vs Newfields
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%).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
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 | Exeter | Hampton Falls | Lebanon | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
2,328 |
14,999 |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
| Hampton Falls 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 NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls 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% NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
| 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 | $110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$166,157±$14k 68% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
$1,744±$132Lowest 17% above NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
| Newfields 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 |
$8,149Lowest 22% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Newfields 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% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | — | #29 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampton Falls School District | Lebanon School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Lebanon High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | 11.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.