Compare towns
Lyme vs Dublin 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
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Dublin has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
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 | Lyme | Dublin | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710 |
1,688Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-4.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
49.3±8.4Highest 14% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
| Dublin and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Dublin and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
25%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
4.2%±3.9 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$104,659±$14kLowest 6% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
| Lyme and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$430,500±$72kLowest 7% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,325±$165Lowest 11% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,165Lowest 22% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
29.2%±8.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
83.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
25 min 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
22%±10.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Dublin 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 | Lyme School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.