Compare towns
Lee vs Exeter vs Topsham vs Nottingham
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).
Nottingham has the youngest population (median age 38.8).
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 | Nottingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
16,151Highest |
9,706 |
5,357 |
| 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% |
+9.3% 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. |
38.8±6.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Nottingham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
40.9%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% |
4.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Nottingham 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. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$122,201±$20k 51% above U.S. |
| Lee and Nottingham 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±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$457,500±$26k 38% above U.S. |
| Lee and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$2,068±$1kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Nottingham 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. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$7,319 135% 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% |
92.1%±44.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Nottingham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above 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% |
22.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee and Nottingham 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 | #15 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Nottingham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Mt Ararat High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
12.2Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.