Compare towns
Lee vs Exeter vs Topsham vs Durham
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%).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Topsham | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
16,151Highest |
9,706 |
15,080 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Topsham 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% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lee and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54kHighest 63% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
| Lee and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61k 44% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Durham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661 210% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham 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% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 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 | #66 of 133 in ME | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Mt Ararat High School | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
12.2 |
12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | 59 photos → | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.