Compare towns
Exeter vs Lyme vs Swanzey
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).
Swanzey has the most affordable homes ($259k 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 | Swanzey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
1,710Lowest |
7,398 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
50±3.1Highest 15% above NH |
| Swanzey and Lyme 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%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Swanzey 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% |
24.2%±4.2Lowest 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% |
30.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Swanzey 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 11% above NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$81,595±$11kLowest 18% below NH |
| Lyme 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±$21k 13% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$259,200±$15kLowest 36% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,508±$303 about the NH average |
| Exeter and Swanzey 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 |
$5,558Lowest 17% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Swanzey and Exeter 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% |
7.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 7% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±4Lowest 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 | — | #102 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Lyme School District | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Monadnock Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| 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.