Compare towns
Andover vs Lyme 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).
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 | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,135 |
1,710Lowest |
2,227Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46±11.6 6% above NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
44.7±7.6Lowest 3% above NH |
| Lyme and Andover 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% |
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% |
19.4%±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% |
30.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Highest 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 |
$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 |
$338,500±$30kLowest 16% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,211±$190Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,418±$130Highest 5% 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 | $5,962Lowest 11% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,021 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±8.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
31 min 14% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest 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 |
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.