Compare towns
Lee vs Rochester vs Exeter
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%).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Rochester | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576Lowest |
33,144Highest |
16,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
43±1.8 about the NH average |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
| Exeter and Rochester 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% |
18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Rochester 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% |
19.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest 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% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest 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±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
| 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 19% above NH |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
| Lee and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Rochester 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% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #98 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Rochester School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Spaulding High School | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.2Highest |
12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.