Compare towns
Exeter vs Hancock 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hancock has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k 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 | Hancock | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
1,791 |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
| Hancock and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
15.4%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.2%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Hancock and Lyme 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% |
53.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Hancock 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 11% above NH |
$95,208±$15kLowest 4% below NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
| Lyme 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 13% above NH |
$436,700±$22kLowest 8% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,208±$650Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 32% above NH |
$6,884Lowest 3% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.4%±55.6Lowest 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% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme 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 | Contoocook Valley 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.