Compare towns
Newfields vs Somersworth 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).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
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 | Somersworth | Exeter | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,023 |
12,111 |
16,151Highest |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%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 |
38.4±2.7Lowest 11% 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% |
19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Somersworth 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% |
14%±3 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% |
31.4%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% |
4.9%±2 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 |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% 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 |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 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 |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
$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% |
56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Somersworth 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% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
26 minHighest 3% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest 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 | — | #117 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Newfields School District | Somersworth School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Somersworth High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— |
| 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.