Compare towns
Lemington vs Exeter vs Columbia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lemington has the most affordable homes ($138k median).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
Columbia has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Lemington | Exeter | Columbia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 108Lowest |
16,151Highest |
683 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.8±22.6Highest 38% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
51.8±10.1 33% above U.S. |
| Lemington and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.4%±21.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Lemington and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.2%±23.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.9%±8.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lemington and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±9.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Columbia and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,000±$42kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$57,917±$13k 28% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $138,400±$14kLowest 58% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$196,400±$29k 41% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$792±$333Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,365 24% below U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$2,009Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
9.1%±95.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 40% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.2%±12.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.2%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lemington 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.