Compare towns
Mapleton vs Lyme vs Exeter vs Chapman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mapleton has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% 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 | Mapleton | Lyme | Exeter | Chapman |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,884 |
1,710 |
16,151Highest |
388Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
45.7±11.4 17% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Chapman and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chapman and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$93,125±$17k 15% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$185,700±$22kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$1,850 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Lyme 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 History | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.