Compare towns
Exeter vs Hanover vs Keene 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%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Hanover | Keene | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
11,685Lowest |
22,939Highest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest 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% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest 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% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
| Hanover 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 |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$8,149 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Exeter 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% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 7% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
17 min 36% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Keene School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Hanover High School | Keene High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
10.7Lowest |
12.3Highest |
11.7 |
| 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.