Compare towns
Exeter vs Lyndeborough vs Milford vs Somersworth
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%).
Lyndeborough has the most homeowners (92.4%).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k 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 | Lyndeborough | Milford | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
1,616Lowest |
16,337Highest |
12,111 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.1% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
| Lyndeborough and Exeter 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% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Lyndeborough 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% |
40.1% NH: 40.6% |
37.2% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Somersworth 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 |
$116,964±$17kHighest 18% above NH |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
| Lyndeborough 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±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$390,900±$26k about the NH average |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,482±$457 about the NH average |
$1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,477±$134Lowest about the NH average |
| Exeter and Milford 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 |
$7,133 7% above NH |
$7,522 13% above NH |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90Lowest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Somersworth 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% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.9% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
92.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Lyndeborough 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 | — | #55 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Milford School District | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Milford High School | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.