Compare towns
Newfields vs Springfield vs Lyme vs Exeter
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).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Springfield | Lyme | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,023 |
154,749Highest |
1,710Lowest |
16,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
33.7±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% 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% |
24.2%±0.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 13.6%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.2%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 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% |
20.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±0.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$52,656±$2kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$245,000±$4kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% 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. |
$1,144±$55Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
| 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. |
$3,695Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.7%±3.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Springfield 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% |
25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 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 | — | #276 of 282 in MA | — | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfields School District | Springfield | Lyme School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Springfield Central High | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.2Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.