Compare towns
Exeter vs Lee vs Rockport
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%).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Rockport has the shortest commute (11 min average).
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 | Rockport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
4,576 |
3,675Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
48.7±3.7Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Rockport 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% |
21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Lee and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±6.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.2%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Lee 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. |
$131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$86,979±$16kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Lee 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±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$469,000±$50k 41% above U.S. |
| Lee and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
— | $1,194±$667Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Rockport 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. |
$9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
$5,764Lowest 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±42.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Rockport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
11 minLowest 57% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #8 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Five Town CSD · RSU 28/MSAD 28 |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Camden Hills Regional H S |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | 10 photos → | 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.