Compare towns
Exeter vs Salisbury vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($167k median).
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).
Lee has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
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 | Exeter | Salisbury | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,093 |
1,609Highest |
925Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±7.7Highest 35% above U.S. |
51.5±4.5Lowest 32% above U.S. |
51.5±11.5Lowest 32% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±9.6 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lee and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lee and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,408±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$111,591±$17kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$49,886±$5kLowest 38% below U.S. |
| Salisbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $166,700±$39kLowest 50% below U.S. |
$363,400±$47kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$174,500±$25k 48% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $995±$386Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,917±$632Highest 36% above U.S. |
— |
| Salisbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,602 49% below U.S. |
$5,859Highest 88% above U.S. |
$1,547Lowest 50% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±73.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
80%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lee and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 21% above U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.3%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Merrimack Valley School District | RSU 30/MSAD 30 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.