Compare towns
Exeter vs Lancaster vs Lunenburg
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%).
Lancaster has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Lunenburg has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
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 | Lancaster | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
3,216 |
1,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Lowest 17% above U.S. |
51.2±4.2Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg 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% |
20.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.1%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$68,911±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$53,125±$9kLowest 34% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$215,700±$24k 35% below U.S. |
$164,000±$11kLowest 51% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,025±$172 27% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,226 35% above U.S. |
$2,702Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±57.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Lunenburg 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% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Lancaster 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | White Mountains Regional School District | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | 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.