Compare towns
Milford vs Lebanon vs Exeter vs Somersworth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k 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.
| Measure | Milford | Lebanon | Exeter | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337Highest |
14,999 |
16,151 |
12,111Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| 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+ | 37.2% NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
| Lebanon and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
| Exeter and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,477±$134Lowest about the NH average |
| Exeter and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522 13% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
57.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon 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 | #55 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Lebanon School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Lebanon High School | Exeter High School | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.7 |
12.1Highest |
11.4 |
| 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.