Compare towns

Exeter vs St. Albans 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%).
St. Albans has the most affordable homes ($263k 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.

MeasureExeterSt. AlbansLebanon
People
Population
16,151Highest
6,954Lowest
14,999
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+12.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.8±2.3Highest
18% above U.S.
38.7±2Lowest
about the U.S. average
38.9±3.1
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
17%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
20.5%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
St. Albans 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
U.S.: 17.2%
13.9%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.4%±2.6
U.S.: 17.2%
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
U.S.: 35.7%
31.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
57.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±1.6Lowest
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±$13kHighest
37% above U.S.
$57,980±$7kLowest
28% below U.S.
$98,147±$10k
22% above U.S.
Exeter and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$456,600±$21kHighest
37% above U.S.
$263,400±$18kLowest
21% below U.S.
$385,400±$29k
16% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,856±$223Highest
31% above U.S.
$1,150±$78Lowest
19% 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.
$4,436Lowest
42% above U.S.
$8,149
161% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59%±11.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.8%±11.8
U.S.: 51.1%
41.9%±7.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Exeter and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
19.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
49%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
51.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1945Lowest
35 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minHighest
6% below U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
14 minLowest
47% below U.S.
Work from home
19.9%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
12.1%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
22.8%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #46 of 70 in VT #29 of 120 in NH
School district Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 Lebanon School District
High school in town Exeter High School Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans) Lebanon High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1Highest
11.4Lowest
11.7
On TownTapestry
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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.