Compare towns
Derry vs Exeter vs Lyndeborough vs Stratham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derry has the youngest population (median age 40.3).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Lyndeborough has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k 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 | Derry | Exeter | Lyndeborough | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
16,151 |
1,616Lowest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
| Lyndeborough and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
40.1% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$116,964±$17k 18% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
| Stratham and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$390,900±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,482±$457Lowest about the NH average |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103 22% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$7,133Lowest 7% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.4% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | — | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.