Compare towns

Newfields vs Pembroke vs Exeter vs Lyme

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).
Pembroke has the most kids (24% 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.

MeasureNewfieldsPembrokeExeterLyme
People
Population
2,023
7,438
16,151Highest
1,710Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.3%
NH: +4.6%
+1.3%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+12.2%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+1.7%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
44.1±1.8
about the NH average
41.9±3.3Lowest
3% below NH
45.8±2.3
6% above NH
48.6±7.8Highest
12% 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%
24%±4.6Highest
NH: 18.2%
17%±2.7Lowest
NH: 18.2%
19.5%±3.4
NH: 18.2%
Pembroke 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
NH: 20.1%
16.4%±3.2
NH: 20.1%
24.4%±2.8
NH: 20.1%
26.5%±2.8Highest
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%
32.2%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
59.2%
NH: 40.6%
70.1%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.5%±7.2Highest
NH: 6%
3.5%±1.6
NH: 6%
6.1%±1.8
NH: 6%
3.3%±1.9Lowest
NH: 6%
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
100% above NH
$89,519±$22kLowest
10% below NH
$110,346±$13k
11% above NH
$133,906±$15k
35% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$646,400±$34kHighest
61% above NH
$371,500±$20kLowest
8% below NH
$456,600±$21k
13% above NH
$645,000±$64k
60% 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±$323Highest
26% above NH
$1,218±$354Lowest
18% below NH
$1,856±$223
24% above NH
$1,418±$130
5% below NH
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 50% above NH
$7,589Lowest
14% above NH
$8,814
32% above NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.3%±40.8Lowest
NH: 48.2%
48.4%±21.8
NH: 48.2%
59%±11.3Highest
NH: 48.2%
52.8%±29.8
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%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
15%Highest
NH: 7.2%
4.7%
NH: 7.2%
4.4%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
67.4%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
69.1%
NH: 72.8%
80.5%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1991Highest
12 yrs newer than NH
1969Lowest
10 yrs older than NH
1979
same as NH
1977
2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minHighest
4% below NH
25 min
8% below NH
25 min
7% below NH
21 minLowest
22% below NH
Work from home
25.5%±3.7
NH: 16.8%
17%±4.8Lowest
NH: 16.8%
19.9%±3.7
NH: 16.8%
27.2%±5.4Highest
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 — #85 of 120 in NH #22 of 120 in NH —
School district Newfields School District Pembroke School District Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District Lyme School District
High school in town None in town Pembroke Academy Exeter High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
13.1Highest
12.1Lowest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet 59 photos → 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.