Compare towns
Andover vs Lyme vs Springfield 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
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
Webster has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
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 | Andover | Lyme | Springfield | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,135 |
1,710 |
1,122Lowest |
2,227Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46±11.6 6% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
51.4±8.8Highest 19% above NH |
44.7±7.6Lowest 3% above NH |
| Springfield and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
15.1%±8 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+ | 28.1%±7.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Andover and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.4% NH: 40.6% |
30.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.2 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Lyme and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $88,514±$27kLowest 11% below NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$100,893±$19k about the NH average |
$107,171±$14k 8% above NH |
| Lyme and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $366,500±$44k 9% below NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$384,100±$50k 5% below NH |
$338,500±$30kLowest 16% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,211±$190 19% below NH |
$1,418±$130Highest 5% below NH |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,396±$622 6% below NH |
| Lyme and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,962 11% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,946Lowest 11% below NH |
$6,021 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
53.6%±71Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Webster and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
31 min 14% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6 NH: 16.8% |
17.1%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Andover School District | Lyme School District | — | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.