Compare towns
Lebanon vs Hartford vs Newmarket vs Exeter
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).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Hartford | Newmarket | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
10,736 |
9,463Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
41.2±1.9 6% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Hartford 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% |
18%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Hartford 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% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Hartford 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% |
47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 22% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$100,845±$13k 25% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Newmarket 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. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$455,000±$22k 37% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Newmarket 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. |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,671±$69 18% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above 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. |
$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$8,734 180% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Newmarket 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% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.3%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 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 | #34 of 70 in VT | #39 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Hartford School District | Newmarket School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | Hartford High School | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
9.6Lowest |
9.9 |
12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.