Compare towns
Jefferson vs Exeter vs Unity vs Lyman
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 the most expensive homes ($457k median).
Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
Lyman has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
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 | Jefferson | Exeter | Unity | Lyman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,013 |
16,151Highest |
1,375 |
464Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-9.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58±3.5 34% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
58±4.5 34% above NH |
60.8±6.5Highest 40% above NH |
| Lyman and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±6.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Exeter and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±9.1 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.9%±7 NH: 20.1% |
38.6%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyman and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.4% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
21.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
27.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.5 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
1%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
1.5%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,188±$13kLowest 32% below NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$87,500±$16k 12% below NH |
$71,042±$17k 28% below NH |
| Exeter and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,700±$92k 26% below NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$276,100±$29kLowest 31% below NH |
$311,100±$66k 23% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$156Lowest 42% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,625±$804 9% above NH |
$1,147±$81 23% below NH |
| Exeter and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,196 37% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$5,394 19% below NH |
$3,981Lowest 40% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±71.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±100 NH: 48.2% |
58.3%±100 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.3% NH: 7.2% |
14.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.5% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
89.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 29% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4 NH: 16.8% |
3.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Jefferson 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 | Unity School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 20 photos → | 59 photos → | 4 photos → | 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.