Compare towns
Lebanon vs Brookline vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 45.8).
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 | Lebanon | Brookline | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,999 |
5,736Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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+ | 57.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lebanon and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132Lowest 17% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
| Brookline and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,149Lowest 22% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Brookline School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.