Compare towns
Swanzey 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
Swanzey has the most affordable homes ($259k 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 | Swanzey | Exeter | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,398 |
16,151Highest |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50±3.1Highest 15% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
| Swanzey and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.2%±4.2Lowest 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+ | 30.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,595±$11kLowest 18% below 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 | $259,200±$15kLowest 36% below NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,508±$303 about the NH average |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
| Exeter and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,558Lowest 17% below NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Swanzey and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.7% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below NH |
25 minHighest 7% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.3%±4Lowest 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 | #102 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Monadnock Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | Monadnock Regional High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.