Compare towns

Lincoln vs Exeter vs Ripton

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lincoln has the most affordable homes ($365k median).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).

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.

MeasureLincolnExeterRipton
People
Population
1,394
16,151Highest
508Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+25.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.7±3.6Lowest
17% above U.S.
45.8±2.3
18% above U.S.
47.7±14.2Highest
23% above U.S.
Ripton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
15.1%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
17%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Exeter and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
22.3%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
30.5%±7.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Ripton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
43.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
59.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
48%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.9%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
20.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$96,667±$18kLowest
20% above U.S.
$110,346±$13k
37% above U.S.
$112,917±$15kHighest
40% above U.S.
Ripton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$365,200±$30kLowest
10% above U.S.
$456,600±$21kHighest
37% above U.S.
$394,400±$61k
19% above U.S.
Exeter and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$870±$47Lowest
38% below U.S.
$1,856±$223Highest
31% above U.S.
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,100
96% above U.S.
$8,814Highest
183% above U.S.
$4,915Lowest
58% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
49.1%±25.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±11.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.9%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
Exeter and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
69.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1973Lowest
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
25 min
6% below U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
Work from home
18.8%±5.6
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.2%±8.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Exeter and Lincoln 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 Lincoln Town School District Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District Addison Central Unified Union School District #55
High school in town None in town Exeter High School None in town
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.