Compare towns
Lee vs Exeter vs South Eliot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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%).
South Eliot has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | South Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576 |
16,151Highest |
4,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S. |
| South Eliot 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 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| South Eliot 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 63% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$99,299±$9kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| 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 44% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$475,600±$52k 43% above U.S. |
| Lee and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661Highest 210% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$4,442Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Eliot and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | 59 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.