Compare towns
Lunenburg vs Exeter vs Dalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lunenburg has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
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 | Lunenburg | Exeter | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,267 |
16,151Highest |
916Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.2±4.2Highest 32% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
44.5±12.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±11.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.1%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $53,125±$9kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$81,429±$36k about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $164,000±$11kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$191,400±$68k 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,025±$172 27% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$900±$825Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,702Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,561 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.5%±57.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±83.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.9%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
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| 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.