Compare towns
Exeter vs Hanover vs Lebanon vs White River Junction
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 the oldest population (median age 45.8).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
White River Junction has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
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 | Lebanon | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
11,685 |
14,999 |
3,364Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
33.7±3.2 13% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| White River Junction and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Hanover and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
15 min 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Lebanon School District | — |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Hanover High School | Lebanon High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
10.7Lowest |
11.7 |
— |
| 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.