Compare towns
Lyme vs Exeter vs Orford vs Newington
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 people working from home (27.2%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
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 | Exeter | Orford | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
16,151Highest |
1,295 |
939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
0%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
48.9±3.3Highest 13% above NH |
48.7±10.1 12% above NH |
| Orford and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.7%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Newington and Lyme 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% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
44%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
5%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$92,571±$24kLowest 7% below NH |
$145,833±$46kHighest 47% above NH |
| Newington and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$271,900±$25kLowest 32% below NH |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,263±$686Lowest 15% below NH |
$2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
| Newington and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$5,836Lowest 12% below NH |
$6,081 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
37.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Newington and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
5.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.5% NH: 72.8% |
86.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme 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 | Lyme School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Rivendell Interstate School District | Newington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Rivendell Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.