Compare towns
Auburn vs Lyme vs Windham vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Windham has the most kids (27.4% under 18).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($552k 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 | Auburn | Lyme | Windham | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,119 |
1,710Lowest |
16,038Highest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
| Lyme and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
$133,906±$15kLowest 35% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$552,300±$42kLowest 37% above NH |
| Windham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822 27% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,092Lowest 21% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,464 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.5% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1991 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Auburn 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 | #44 of 120 in NH | — | #13 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | Lyme School District | Windham School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.