Compare towns
Atkinson vs Exeter vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
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 | Atkinson | Exeter | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267 |
16,151Highest |
4,576Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Atkinson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
| Atkinson and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
| Atkinson and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918Lowest 4% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Atkinson 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 | #32 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None 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 → | 10 photos → |
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.