Compare towns
Bath vs Benton vs Lyman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bath has the most people working from home (11.1%).
Benton has the oldest population (median age 62.1).
Lyman has the most expensive homes ($311k 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 | Bath | Benton | Lyman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,097Highest |
386Lowest |
464 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— | +9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±8.6Lowest 12% above NH |
62.1±1.9Highest 43% above NH |
60.8±6.5 40% above NH |
| Benton and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
6.7%±4.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±6.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Bath and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
37.3%±12.5 NH: 20.1% |
38.6%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyman and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.8% NH: 40.6% |
18.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
27.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bath and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,813±$22kLowest 32% below NH |
$67,895±$4k 31% below NH |
$71,042±$17kHighest 28% below NH |
| Lyman and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,400±$23kLowest 42% below NH |
$288,300±$46k 28% below NH |
$311,100±$66kHighest 23% below NH |
| Lyman and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,438±$309Highest 4% below NH |
— | $1,147±$81Lowest 23% below NH |
| Bath and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,413Highest 34% below NH |
$2,922Lowest 56% below NH |
$3,981 40% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 5.9%±61.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
100%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
58.3%±100 NH: 48.2% |
| Benton and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
14.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9% NH: 72.8% |
92.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
89.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
2.6%±3.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
3.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Bath School District | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.