Compare towns
Exeter vs Jackson 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).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
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 | Jackson | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
897Lowest |
1,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+26%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
60.5±2.5Highest 40% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest 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% |
28.4%±6.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Jackson 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
67.7% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Lyme 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 |
$117,986±$46k 19% above NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
| Lyme and Jackson 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 |
$719,300±$109kHighest 79% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
| Jackson and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,750±$1k 17% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
| Exeter and Jackson 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 |
$6,001Lowest 10% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
16.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 7% below NH |
19 minLowest 31% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±10.2 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Jackson 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 | Jackson 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.