Compare towns
Exeter vs Lee vs Townsend vs Newmarket
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%).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Newmarket has the most renters (47.1% rent).
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 | Townsend | Newmarket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
4,576Lowest |
9,100 |
9,463 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.2±1.9 6% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lee and Townsend 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%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.7% 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%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Newmarket 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. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$100,845±$13kLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Lee and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$480,600±$61kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$455,000±$22k 37% above U.S. |
| Lee and Exeter 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. |
— | $1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$1,671±$69 18% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Newmarket 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. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$8,734 180% 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% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Townsend 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.3%±3.3 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #39 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Oyster River Coop School District | North Middlesex | Newmarket School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | 13.1Highest |
9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | 10 photos → | None yet | 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.