Compare towns
Exeter vs South Berwick vs Hampstead vs Lebanon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k 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 | South Berwick | Hampstead | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
7,670Lowest |
9,102 |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Hampstead 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 37% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Hampstead 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 37% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
| 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 183% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon and Hampstead 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 | #58 of 133 in ME | #49 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Hampstead School District | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Marshwood High School | None in town | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
13.0Highest |
— | 11.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.