Compare towns

Newfields vs Hermon 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 highest household income ($198k).
Hermon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+19.3%).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
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.

MeasureNewfieldsHermonExeterLyme
People
Population
2,023
6,727
16,151Highest
1,710Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+19.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.1±1.8
13% above U.S.
41.1±4.7Lowest
6% 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%
21.6%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
17%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.5%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
Hermon 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%
20.4%±4.7
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%
37.6%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%
4.8%±2.1
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.
$96,629±$22kLowest
20% above U.S.
$110,346±$13k
37% above U.S.
$133,906±$15k
66% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$646,400±$34kHighest
94% above U.S.
$333,600±$32kLowest
about the U.S. average
$456,600±$21k
37% above U.S.
$645,000±$64k
94% above U.S.
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±$323Highest
33% above U.S.
$1,406±$202Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,856±$223
31% above U.S.
$1,418±$130
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.
$2,761Lowest
11% below U.S.
$8,814
183% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.3%±40.8
U.S.: 51.1%
28.2%±19.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±11.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±29.8
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
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%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%
75.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
69.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1991
11 yrs newer than U.S.
2000Highest
20 yrs newer than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
23 min
14% below 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%
8.8%±4.2Lowest
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 — #54 of 133 in ME #22 of 120 in NH —
School district Newfields School District Hermon Public Schools Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District Lyme School District
High school in town None in town Hermon High School Exeter High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
14.6Highest
12.1Lowest
—
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.