Compare towns
Exeter vs Hartford vs Keene 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%).
Hartford has the most kids (18% under 18).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
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 | Hartford | Keene | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
10,736Lowest |
22,939Highest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Hartford 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% |
18%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Hartford 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% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Hartford 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% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
17 min 35% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon and Exeter 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 | #34 of 70 in VT | #81 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hartford School District | Keene School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Hartford High School | Keene High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
9.6Lowest |
12.3Highest |
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.