Compare towns
Exeter vs Newmarket vs Brentwood vs Lebanon
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%).
Brentwood has the highest household income ($166k).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Newmarket | Brentwood | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
9,463 |
4,641Lowest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
43.8±3.1 about the NH average |
38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
| Exeter and Brentwood 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% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Brentwood 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% |
16.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Brentwood 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% |
49.7% NH: 40.6% |
49%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest 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 |
$100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$528,100±$75kHighest 31% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
| Brentwood and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,671±$69Lowest 12% above NH |
$2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
| Brentwood and Exeter 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 |
$8,734 31% above NH |
$9,713Highest 46% above NH |
$8,149Lowest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Brentwood 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% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
52.9% NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Brentwood 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 | #39 of 120 in NH | #16 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Newmarket School District | Brentwood School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | None in town | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
9.9Lowest |
— | 11.7 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.