Compare towns
Exeter vs Lebanon vs Concord vs Stratham
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).
Concord has the most affordable homes ($351k median).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k 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 | Lebanon | Concord | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
14,999 |
44,375Highest |
7,754Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
40.7±1.3 6% below NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
| Exeter and Stratham 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% |
17.2%±1.3 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Concord 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% |
18.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 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% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
42.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
6%±0.8 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest 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±$10k about the NH average |
$84,902±$5kLowest 14% below NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$350,900±$13kLowest 13% below NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,441±$43Lowest 3% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 32% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$7,227Lowest 8% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±5.2 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Exeter 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% NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
56.8% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
23 min 14% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham 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 | #89 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Lebanon School District | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Lebanon High School | Concord High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
11.7Lowest |
13.0Highest |
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| 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.