Compare towns
Lee vs Exeter vs Litchfield
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%).
Litchfield has the highest household income ($162k).
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 | Litchfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
16,151Highest |
8,499 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
43.1±1.7 about the NH average |
| Exeter and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Litchfield and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.9%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Lee 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% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±1.6Lowest 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±$54k 33% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$162,036±$11kHighest 64% above NH |
| Litchfield and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$485,000±$18kHighest 20% above NH |
| Litchfield and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,856±$223Lowest 24% above NH |
$2,138±$406Highest 43% above NH |
| Litchfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$8,273Lowest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
81.5%±38.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Litchfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
29 minHighest 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Litchfield 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 | #53 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Litchfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Campbell High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.