Compare towns
Exeter vs Lebanon vs Portsmouth vs Londonderry
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).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Londonderry has the most homeowners (85.6%).
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 | Portsmouth | Londonderry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
14,999Lowest |
22,545 |
26,685Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
42.7±0.9 about the NH average |
| Exeter and Portsmouth 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%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Londonderry 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% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Portsmouth 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% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
47.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±1 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 |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$132,556±$14kHighest 34% above NH |
| Londonderry and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$505,200±$20k 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,744±$132Lowest 17% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,803±$154 21% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Exeter 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 |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
$8,069 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±7.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Portsmouth 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% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
51.9% NH: 72.8% |
85.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 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 |
22 min 17% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | #37 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Lebanon School District | Portsmouth School District | Londonderry School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Lebanon High School | Portsmouth High School | Londonderry Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
11.7 |
11.4Lowest |
12.0 |
| 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.