Compare towns
Exeter vs Madbury vs Lyme
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%).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
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 | Madbury | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
2,203 |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Lyme and Exeter 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% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest 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% |
52.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Madbury 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 |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
| Madbury and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
| Exeter and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Lowest 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 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% |
4.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
25 minHighest 5% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest 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 | Oyster River Coop School District | Lyme 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.