Compare towns
Durham vs Lyme vs Exeter vs Plymouth
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).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k 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 | Lyme | Exeter | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080 |
1,710Lowest |
16,151Highest |
6,601 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
| Lyme and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Exeter 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% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7 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+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
54%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
| Lyme and Durham 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 |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
25 minHighest 7% below NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Lyme School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Exeter High School | Plymouth Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | 12.1Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.