Compare towns
Durham vs Exeter vs Lee vs Rye
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Exeter | Lee | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080 |
16,151Highest |
4,576Lowest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
| Rye and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
— | $1,781±$156 19% above NH |
| Exeter and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Lee 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 59 photos → | 10 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.