Compare towns
Lyme vs Newfields vs Exeter vs Dorchester
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).
Newfields has the youngest population (median age 44.1).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k 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 | Newfields | Exeter | Dorchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
2,023 |
16,151Highest |
410Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
44.1±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
| Dorchester and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Newfields 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester 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% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Exeter 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 |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
— |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
| Newfields and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
— |
| Newfields 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
95.3% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
40 minHighest 50% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
12.2%±8.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Newfields 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 | Newfields 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 → | 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.