Compare towns
Barnstead vs Eliot vs Lyme vs Nottingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Nottingham has the most kids (23.9% under 18).
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 | Barnstead | Eliot | Lyme | Nottingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994 |
7,146Highest |
1,710Lowest |
5,357 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
38.8±6.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Eliot and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Nottingham and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12k 38% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$122,201±$20k 51% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$457,500±$26k 38% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$2,068±$1kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Nottingham and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 92% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,319 135% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
92.1%±44.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Nottingham and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Nottingham 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME | — | #15 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Lyme School District | Nottingham School District |
| High school in town | None 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 |
U.S. 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.