Compare towns
Exeter vs Lynn vs Nahant
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Lynn has the most kids (24.1% under 18).
Nahant has the most expensive homes ($749k 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 | Lynn | Nahant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151 |
101,709Highest |
3,325Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
36.5±1.2Lowest 6% below U.S. |
60.7±2.9Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
24.1%±1.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.7%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
36.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Lynn 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 37% above U.S. |
$75,043±$3kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$112,762±$6kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Nahant 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±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$510,100±$23k 53% above U.S. |
$748,800±$99kHighest 125% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,722±$60Lowest 22% above U.S. |
$1,777±$334 26% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Nahant are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,384Lowest 73% above U.S. |
$6,615 112% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
60%±4.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lynn and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1946 34 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
32 min 19% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.9%±1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Nahant 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 | #277 of 282 in MA | #129 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Lynn | — |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Lynn English High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
15.0Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.