Compare towns
Warner vs Lyme vs Exeter vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Warner has the youngest population (median age 43.7).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Webster has the most homeowners (96%).
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 | Warner | Lyme | Exeter | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,959 |
1,710Lowest |
16,151Highest |
2,227 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.7±4Lowest about the NH average |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
44.7±7.6 3% above NH |
| Lyme and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.3%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Webster and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±3.5 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±1.3Lowest 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+ | 42.4% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
30.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,022±$18kLowest 5% below NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$107,171±$14k 8% 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 | $353,100±$22k 12% below NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$338,500±$30kLowest 16% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,219±$123Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,396±$622 6% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,650 15% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$6,021Lowest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.7%±21.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
53.6%±71 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
9.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.6% NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
31 min 14% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.6%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
17.1%±3.9 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 | Merrimack Valley 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 History | 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.