Compare towns
Exeter vs Lebanon vs Newmarket vs Plymouth
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).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% 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 | Lebanon | Newmarket | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
14,999 |
9,463 |
6,601Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Exeter and Newmarket 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% |
16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
49.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
| Exeter and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
| Exeter and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,671±$69 12% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
| 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 32% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$8,734 31% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Newmarket 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% |
4.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
52.9% NH: 72.8% |
56.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
18 min 31% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #39 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Lebanon School District | Newmarket School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Lebanon High School | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Plymouth Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
11.7 |
9.9Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.