Compare towns
Lebanon vs Exeter vs Newington vs Dover
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%).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Dover has the youngest population (median age 36.9).
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 | Newington | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
16,151 |
939Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Newington 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 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.7%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Exeter and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Newington and Exeter 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% NH: 40.6% |
62.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| 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 about the NH average |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$145,833±$46kHighest 47% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
| Newington 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 4% below NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
| Newington and Exeter 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 |
$6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Newington and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
86.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
25 minHighest 7% below NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Newington School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | Exeter High School | None in town | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
12.1 |
— | 12.7Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.