Compare towns
Exeter vs Lee vs Mont Vernon 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%).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Mont Vernon has the most kids (22.1% under 18).
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 | Lee | Mont Vernon | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
4,576 |
2,636 |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
42.9±2.8Lowest about the NH average |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
| Exeter and Newfields 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% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
22.1%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Mont Vernon and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Lee 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% |
50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.8% NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8 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±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$158,036±$19k 60% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$526,300±$39k 31% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
— | $1,104±$185Lowest 26% 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 | $8,814Lowest 32% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$9,432 41% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8 NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Mont Vernon 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% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8% NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Mont Vernon 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #4 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Mont Vernon 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 → | 10 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.