Compare towns
Lebanon vs Exeter vs Newfields 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 shortest commute (14 min average).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
White River Junction has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
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 | Newfields | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
16,151Highest |
2,023Lowest |
3,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Newfields 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% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Newfields and White River Junction 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest 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% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Lebanon 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. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Newfields and Exeter 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. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Newfields 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
15 min 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Newfields School District | — |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | Exeter High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.