Compare towns
Lisbon Falls vs Exeter vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lisbon Falls has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Durham has the most homeowners (95.4%).
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 | Lisbon Falls | Exeter | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,267 |
16,151Highest |
4,262Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.1±4.4Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
42.6±5.9 10% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Durham and Lisbon Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,344±$9kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$99,181±$5k 23% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $245,700±$25kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$322,200±$34k 3% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $971±$450Lowest 31% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,947Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,781 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.9%±18 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±40.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #14 of 133 in ME |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet |
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.