Compare towns
Lebanon vs Durham vs Exeter vs White River Junction
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 most people working from home (22.8%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Exeter has the most homeowners (69.1%).
White River Junction has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Exeter | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
10,681 |
16,151Highest |
3,364Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2 13% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| White River Junction 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% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6 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+ | 57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$112,070±$25kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Durham 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±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$498,000±$45kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Durham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
$1,302±$211 8% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±19.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Durham 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% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
17 min 35% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
15 min 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lebanon School District | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | — | 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 → | 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.