Compare towns
Lebanon vs Lyme vs Keene vs Exeter
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).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k 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 | Lyme | Keene | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
1,710Lowest |
22,939Highest |
16,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
| Lyme 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% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme 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 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme 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% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
| Lyme 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±$29k 4% below NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$8,814 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
17 min 36% below NH |
25 minHighest 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme 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 | — | #81 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Lyme School District | Keene School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | None in town | Keene High School | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
— | 12.3Highest |
12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.