Compare towns
Milford vs Exeter vs Lyme vs Derry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k 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 | Milford | Exeter | Lyme | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337 |
16,151 |
1,710Lowest |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
| Lyme and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6 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+ | 37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$108,944±$7k 10% 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 | $398,800±$20kLowest about the NH average |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
| Exeter and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522Lowest 13% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,103 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 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 | 3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
25 min 7% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 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 | #55 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | — | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Lyme School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Exeter High School | None in town | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.1 |
— | 13.9Highest |
| 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.