Compare towns

Lebanon vs Newfields vs Exeter 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).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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.

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