Compare towns
Exeter vs Gray vs Lyme vs Newfields
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%).
Gray has the most affordable homes ($364k median).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Gray | Lyme | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
8,429 |
1,710Lowest |
2,023 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5Lowest 12% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Gray 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% |
19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields 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±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,371±$89Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 183% above U.S. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Newfields 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 | #10 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Lyme School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Gray-New Gloucester High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.5Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | 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.