Compare towns
Sutton vs Lyme vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
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 | Sutton | Lyme | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,239 |
1,710Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.1±4.1 11% above NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
| Lyme and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.5%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Sutton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 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+ | 44.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.6 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $130,313±$31k 32% above NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
| Lyme and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,600±$16kLowest 10% below NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,656±$614 11% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
| Exeter and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,652Lowest 15% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±47.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest 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 | 4.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.8%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 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 | Kearsarge Regional School District | Lyme School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Kearsarge Regional High School | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.