Compare towns
Exeter vs Auburn vs Lyme
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Auburn | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
6,119 |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
44.3±5.9Lowest about the NH average |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Lyme and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest 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+ | 59.2% NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
| Auburn and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
| Lyme and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
| Auburn and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 32% above NH |
$8,092Lowest 21% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Auburn 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Auburn School District | Lyme School District |
| High school 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 | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.