Compare towns
Barnstead vs Lyme vs Newfields vs Strafford
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%).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Lyme | Newfields | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994Highest |
1,710Lowest |
2,023 |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
| Lyme and Strafford 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% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Lowest 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% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Newfields and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
| Newfields and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,086 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Newfields 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 | — | — | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Lyme School District | Newfields School District | Strafford 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 |
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.