Compare towns
Exeter vs Lancaster vs Lyme vs Newfields
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%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k 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 | Lancaster | Lyme | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
3,216 |
1,710Lowest |
2,023 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
45.5±6.9 5% above NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
44.1±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
| 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% |
20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster and Lyme 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% |
28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lancaster 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% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
| 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 11% above NH |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
| 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 24% above NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
| 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 32% above NH |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 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% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.1% NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
23 min 14% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | White Mountains Regional School District | Lyme School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | 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 | 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.