Compare towns
Lebanon vs Exeter vs Swanzey vs Portsmouth
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%).
Swanzey has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k 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 | Swanzey | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
16,151 |
7,398Lowest |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
50±3.1Highest 15% above NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Swanzey and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Swanzey and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.2%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Swanzey 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% |
30.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.4%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 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 |
$81,595±$11kLowest 18% below NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Exeter and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$259,200±$15kLowest 36% below NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,508±$303Lowest about the NH average |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
| Portsmouth 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 |
$5,558Lowest 17% below NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Swanzey 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
71.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
25 minHighest 7% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon and Portsmouth 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 | #102 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Monadnock Regional School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | Exeter High School | Monadnock Regional High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
12.1 |
12.8Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.