Compare towns
Exeter vs Lyme vs Mason
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%).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
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 | Lyme | Mason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
1,710 |
1,451Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
43.7±2.3Lowest 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% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Mason 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% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme 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% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Lyme 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 |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$111,090±$3k 12% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$384,000±$21kLowest 5% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
| Mason 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,049Lowest 6% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Exeter 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% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Mason 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 | Lyme School District | Mason School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | 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 |
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.