Compare towns
Newfields vs Hanover 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).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Lyme has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Lyme | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,023 |
8,479 |
1,710Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% 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% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 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+ | 13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2 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% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
| Hanover 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%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 4% below NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Hanover 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | — | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfields School District | — | 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 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.