Compare towns
Salisbury 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
Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.6%).
Exeter has the youngest population (median age 45.8).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
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 | Salisbury | Exeter | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,656 |
16,151Highest |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +15.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51±6.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
| Salisbury and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salisbury and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,469±$7kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $465,900±$31k 40% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,770±$444 25% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,561Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.8%±11.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salisbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.7%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Exeter 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 | #240 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.