What stands out worked out from the figures below

Allenstown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.9%).

Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Allenstown	Lyme
People
Population	4,743Highest	1,710Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.9%Highest NH: +4.6%	+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	39.4±4.7Lowest 9% below NH	48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH
	Lyme and Allenstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.9%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2%	19.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Allenstown and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.4%±3.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%	70.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.7%±0.7Lowest NH: 6%	3.3%±1.9Highest NH: 6%
	Lyme and Allenstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$72,500±$21kLowest 27% below NH	$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$243,600±$69kLowest 39% below NH	$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,281±$397Lowest 14% below NH	$1,418±$130Highest 5% below NH
	Lyme and Allenstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,098Lowest 39% below NH	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	57.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2%	52.8%±29.8Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Allenstown and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.9%Highest NH: 7.2%	4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.9%Highest NH: 72.8%	80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minHighest 10% below NH	21 minLowest 22% below NH
Work from home	7.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8%	27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
School district	Allenstown School District	Lyme School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	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.