Compare towns
Lyme vs Exeter vs Stratham vs Wilmot
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Wilmot has the most affordable homes ($400k 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 | Stratham | Wilmot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
16,151Highest |
7,754 |
1,487Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
53±2.4Highest 22% above NH |
| Wilmot 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham 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% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.3%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Exeter 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% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
58.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Stratham 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±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$117,759±$15k 19% above NH |
| Stratham 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 |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$399,600±$43kLowest about the NH average |
| Stratham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,125±$289Lowest 25% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$6,651Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.1%±41.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | — |
| 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 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.