Compare towns
Newington vs Rye 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
Newington has the highest household income ($146k).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Newington | Rye | Exeter | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 939Lowest |
5,611 |
16,151Highest |
1,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.7±10.1 12% above NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
| Rye and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28%±11 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4% NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $145,833±$46kHighest 47% above NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
| Newington and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $861,600±$46k 114% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
| Newington and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Newington and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Lyme 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 | — | #2 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Newington School District | Rye School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
— |
| 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.