Compare towns
Lebanon vs Exeter vs Milford
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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% 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 | Lebanon | Exeter | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,999Lowest |
16,151 |
16,337Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lebanon and Exeter 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 about the NH average |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average |
| Exeter and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,661±$126Lowest 11% above NH |
| 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 22% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$7,522Lowest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Milford 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Milford School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | Exeter High School | Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
12.1Highest |
10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.