Compare towns
Exeter vs Lyme vs Sutton
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).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($363k 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 | Lyme | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
1,710Lowest |
2,239 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
48.1±4.1 11% above NH |
| Lyme and Sutton 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% |
20.5%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Sutton 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% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest 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% |
44.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Sutton 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 |
$130,313±$31k 32% above NH |
| Lyme and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$362,600±$16kLowest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,656±$614 11% above NH |
| Exeter and Sutton 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 |
$7,652Lowest 15% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
29 minHighest 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme 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 | — | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Lyme School District | Kearsarge Regional School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| 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.