Compare towns
Lancaster vs Exeter vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the most homeowners (75.1%).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
Lancaster has the most kids (25.1% under 18).
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 | Lancaster | Exeter | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,216 |
16,151Highest |
2,230Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+12.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9 5% above NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
38.6±8.5Lowest 11% below NH |
| Exeter and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±6.1 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25.1%±8.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lancaster and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.1% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
23.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±3 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,911±$23k 30% below NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$66,765±$20kLowest 33% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $215,700±$24k 46% below NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$200,500±$24kLowest 50% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,036±$221 31% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,226 37% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$4,225Lowest 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.2%±18.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
19.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
65.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942 37 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1938Lowest 41 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below NH |
25 minHighest 7% below NH |
20 minLowest 26% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.6%±6.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Lancaster 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | White Mountains Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 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.