Compare towns
Sullivan 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
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Sullivan | Exeter | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 687Lowest |
16,151Highest |
1,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.6±6.5 8% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Lyme and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±3.6Lowest 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+ | 28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
| Lyme and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$275Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±84.5Lowest 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 | 4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | — | #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 Our Story | 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.