Compare towns
Lyman vs Exeter vs Bath
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyman has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
Exeter has the most people working from home (19.9%).
Bath has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
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 | Lyman | Exeter | Bath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 464Lowest |
16,151Highest |
1,097 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
0%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.8±6.5Highest 40% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
48.6±8.6 12% above NH |
| Lyman and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±6.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bath and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.1%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.8% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
26.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.4%±2 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,042±$17k 28% below NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$67,813±$22kLowest 32% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $311,100±$66k 23% below NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$234,400±$23kLowest 42% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,147±$81Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,438±$309 4% below NH |
| Exeter and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,981Lowest 40% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$4,413 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±100 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
5.9%±61.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 3.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.1%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Bath School District |
| High school 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 |
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.