Compare towns
Exeter vs Wilder vs Lebanon vs Kingston
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 the most kids (17% under 18).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Lebanon has the most renters (48.8% rent).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Wilder | Lebanon | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
3,087Lowest |
14,999 |
6,275 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.7%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Lebanon 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. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$105,330±$12k 30% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Kingston 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. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$492,900±$58kHighest 48% above U.S. |
| Kingston 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. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
$1,393±$156 about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
$7,906 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±46.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Kingston 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% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
17 min 37% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.3 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 | — | #29 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — | Lebanon School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | — | Lebanon High School | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | 11.7Lowest |
12.9Highest |
| 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.