Compare towns
Lebanon vs Dorset vs Dover vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Dorset has the most kids (24% under 18).
Dover has the youngest population (median age 36.9).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Dorset | Dover | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
2,092Lowest |
33,364Highest |
16,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Dorset and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
| Dorset and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% 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 | $8,149 161% above U.S. |
$7,489Lowest 140% above U.S. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dorset and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
22 min 18% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Dover School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
— | 12.7Highest |
12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.