Compare towns
Exeter vs Lebanon vs Amherst
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%).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Lebanon | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
14,999 |
11,861Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
| Amherst 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% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst 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 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3Lowest 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% |
57.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lebanon and Exeter 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 |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
| Exeter and Lebanon 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 |
$8,149Lowest 22% above NH |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Lebanon 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% |
7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst 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 | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Lebanon School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Lebanon High School | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
11.7 |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | 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.