Compare towns
Eliot vs Exeter vs Newington vs Rye
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Newington has the highest household income ($146k).
Rye has the most people working from home (30.9%).
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 | Eliot | Exeter | Newington | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
16,151Highest |
939Lowest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
48.7±10.1 25% above U.S. |
55.1±3Highest 42% above U.S. |
| Rye and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Rye and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±11 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rye and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$145,833±$46kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39k 74% above U.S. |
| Newington and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$861,600±$46k 159% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
$1,781±$156Lowest 26% above U.S. |
| Newington and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,081 95% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.9%±44Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newington and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rye 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #22 of 120 in NH | — | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Newington School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.