Compare towns
Exeter vs Salisbury vs Lee vs Sumner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salisbury has the most expensive homes ($363k median).
Lee has the most kids (21.8% under 18).
Sumner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).
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 | Exeter | Salisbury | Lee | Sumner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,093 |
1,609Highest |
925 |
845Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±7.7 35% above U.S. |
51.5±4.5Lowest 32% above U.S. |
51.5±11.5Lowest 32% above U.S. |
56.1±8.4Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Sumner and Exeter 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% |
17.2%±6.9 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%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sumner and Salisbury 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% |
15.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest 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. |
$57,750±$19k 28% 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±$39k 50% below U.S. |
$363,400±$47kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$174,500±$25k 48% below U.S. |
$150,000±$73kLowest 55% 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. |
$2,167 31% 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%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sumner and Lee 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 33% above U.S. |
32 minLowest 21% above U.S. |
35 min 32% above U.S. |
42 minHighest 60% 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% |
18.5%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salisbury and Sumner 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 | RSU 10 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.