Compare towns
Lee vs Sutton vs Exeter vs Nottingham
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%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Sutton | Exeter | Nottingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
2,239Lowest |
16,151Highest |
5,357 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
48.1±4.1Highest 11% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
38.8±6.7Lowest 10% below NH |
| Sutton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.9%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| 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 NH: 20.1% |
21.6%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.4%±4.2Lowest 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% |
44.3% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| 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 33% above NH |
$130,313±$31k 32% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$122,201±$20k 23% above NH |
| Lee and Sutton 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 |
$362,600±$16kLowest 10% below NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$457,500±$26k 14% above NH |
| Lee and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,656±$614Lowest 11% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$2,068±$1kHighest 39% above NH |
| 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 45% above NH |
$7,652 15% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$7,319Lowest 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| 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% NH: 7.2% |
4.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.7% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
29 min 10% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #15 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Kearsarge Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Nottingham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | None yet | 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.