Compare towns
Exeter vs Cornwall vs Lincoln
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (24.4%).
Lincoln has the most affordable homes ($365k median).
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 | Cornwall | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
1,208Lowest |
1,394 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
50.4±4.6Highest 30% above U.S. |
45.7±3.6Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Cornwall and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Cornwall and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.7%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornwall 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$114,583±$32kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$96,667±$18kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Cornwall and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$458,000±$49kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$365,200±$30kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Cornwall and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,125±$206 20% below U.S. |
$870±$47Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,726 116% above U.S. |
$6,100Lowest 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±65.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.1%±25.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cornwall and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.8%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cornwall 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Lincoln Town 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 History | 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.