Compare towns
Benton vs Exeter vs Lyman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benton has the most affordable homes ($288k median).
Exeter has the most people working from home (19.9%).
Lyman has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Benton | Exeter | Lyman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 386Lowest |
16,151Highest |
464 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 62.1±1.9Highest 43% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
60.8±6.5 40% above NH |
| Benton and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 6.7%±4.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±6.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Exeter and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 37.3%±12.5 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
38.6%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyman and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 18.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,895±$4kLowest 31% below NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$71,042±$17k 28% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,300±$46kLowest 28% below NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$311,100±$66k 23% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,147±$81Lowest 23% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,922Lowest 56% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$3,981 40% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
58.3%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Benton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
14.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
89.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
| Work from home | 2.6%±3.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
3.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.