Compare towns
Lee vs Exeter vs Cornish
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k 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 | Lee | Exeter | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576 |
16,151Highest |
1,816Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
| Cornish and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±6.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Cornish and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$91,821±$2kLowest 7% below NH |
| Lee and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
| Lee and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,221±$227Lowest 18% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$5,796Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest about the NH average |
25 min 7% below NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Cornish School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | 59 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.