Compare towns
Lee vs Exeter 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
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k 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 | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576 |
16,151Highest |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
45.8±2.3 6% above 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 | 21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Lyme 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% |
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+ | 50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest 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±$54k 33% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
| Lyme 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 |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661 45% above NH |
$8,814Lowest 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest 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 | 2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest about the NH average |
25 min 7% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Lyme 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 | Lyme 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.