Compare towns
Newfields vs Brookline vs Lyme vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k 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 | Newfields | Brookline | Lyme | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,023 |
5,736 |
1,710Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
| Lyme and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.6%±0.9 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 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+ | 68.1% NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$171,046±$4k 73% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
| Newfields and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
| Brookline and Newfields 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814Lowest 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest 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 | 2.4% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.1% NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991 12 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest 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 | — | #23 of 120 in NH | — | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfields School District | Brookline School District | Lyme School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None 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 | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.