Compare towns
Newfields vs Hanover vs Exeter vs Lyme
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfields has the most homeowners (95.3%).
Hanover has the most kids (26.1% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Exeter | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,023 |
14,845 |
16,151Highest |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
41.8±1.4Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% 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 | 18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
26.1%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Hanover and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
56.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$189,803±$23k 135% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$755,400±$39kHighest 127% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,845±$341 31% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$9,342 200% above U.S. |
$8,814Lowest 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
65%±23.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #69 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Newfields School District | Hanover · South Shore Regional Vocational Technical | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None in town | South Shore Vocational Technical High | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | 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.