Compare towns
Exeter vs Lyme vs Westmoreland
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).
Westmoreland has the most affordable homes ($352k 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 | Westmoreland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
1,710Lowest |
2,237 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
55.3±2.2Highest 28% above NH |
| Westmoreland and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Westmoreland and Lyme 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% |
47.2%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 Westmoreland 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 |
$104,444±$28kLowest 5% above 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 |
$351,800±$12kLowest 13% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,354±$280Lowest 9% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,643Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
32.5%±23.2Lowest 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% |
6.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
89.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 7% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6.3Lowest 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 | Westmoreland 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.