Compare towns
Lebanon vs North Hampton vs Exeter 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).
North Hampton has the most expensive homes ($670k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | North Hampton | Exeter | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
4,543Lowest |
16,151 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| North Hampton 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% |
19.2%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| North Hampton 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%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| North Hampton 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% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 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 |
$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
| North Hampton 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 |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,805±$106 21% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,607±$100Lowest 8% above NH |
| Exeter and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,149Lowest 22% above NH |
$8,529 28% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7% NH: 7.2% |
2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
25 minHighest 7% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| North Hampton 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | North Hampton School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | None in town | Exeter High School | 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 | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.