Compare towns
Derry vs Lyme vs Exeter
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).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Lyme | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
1,710Lowest |
16,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
| Lyme and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Lyme 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% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Exeter 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% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
| Lyme and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
| Exeter and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103Lowest 22% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme 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 |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Lyme School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 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.