Compare towns
Exeter vs Lincoln vs Rumney
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%).
Lincoln has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Rumney has the most affordable homes ($310k median).
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 | Lincoln | Rumney |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
1,461 |
1,458Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
46.8±10.1Highest 8% above NH |
44.5±2.3Lowest about the NH average |
| Lincoln 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% |
19.4%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Lincoln and Rumney 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% |
28.3%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.1%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lincoln and Exeter 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 NH: 40.6% |
38.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
1.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$70,625±$54kLowest 29% below NH |
$79,444±$21k 20% below NH |
| Exeter and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$342,000±$38k 15% below NH |
$309,800±$37kLowest 23% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,143±$498 23% below NH |
$1,064±$100Lowest 29% below NH |
| Exeter and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$2,984Lowest 55% below NH |
$4,716 29% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
49.7%±26 NH: 48.2% |
48.1%±21.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.2% NH: 7.2% |
10.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
72% NH: 72.8% |
77.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±8.1 NH: 16.8% |
14.4%±7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Lincoln 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 | Lincoln-Woodstock Cooperative School District | Rumney School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Lin-Wood Public School (High) | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
7.4Lowest |
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| 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.