Compare towns
Barnstead vs Hillsborough vs Lyme
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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.
| Measure | Barnstead | Hillsborough | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
5,980Highest |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
40.9±4.6Lowest 6% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Lyme and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9% NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
| Lyme and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25k 10% below NH |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,418±$130Highest 5% below NH |
| Lyme and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 10% below NH |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Hillsborough and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.3% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #111 of 120 in NH | #97 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
— |
| 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.