Compare towns
Bath vs Lancaster 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 kids (21.3% under 18).
Lancaster has the most renters (24.9% rent).
Lyman has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 | Lancaster | Lyman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,097 |
3,216Highest |
464Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±8.6 12% above NH |
45.5±6.9Lowest 5% above NH |
60.8±6.5Highest 40% above NH |
| Lyman and Bath 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% |
20.9%±6.1 NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±6.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bath and Lancaster 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% |
28.4%±5.8 NH: 20.1% |
38.6%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2 NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lancaster and Bath 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 |
$68,911±$23k 30% below NH |
$71,042±$17kHighest 28% below NH |
| Lyman and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $234,400±$23k 42% below NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$311,100±$66kHighest 23% below NH |
| Lyman and Bath 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 |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,147±$81 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 |
$4,226 37% below NH |
$3,981Lowest 40% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 5.9%±61.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17 NH: 48.2% |
58.3%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyman and Lancaster 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% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
14.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
89.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 4% below NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
24 min 10% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
3.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lancaster and Bath 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 | — | #107 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Bath School District | White Mountains Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.