Compare towns
Exeter vs Portsmouth vs Rye 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%).
Portsmouth has the oldest housing (typical home built 1959).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
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 | Portsmouth | Rye | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
22,545Highest |
5,611Lowest |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Rye and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and Exeter 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% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
| Rye 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 |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,744±$132Lowest 17% 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 |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
51.9% NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Rye 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Portsmouth School District | Rye School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Portsmouth High School | None in town | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
11.4Lowest |
— | 11.7 |
| 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.