Compare towns
Benton vs Dummer 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
Benton has the oldest population (median age 62.1).
Dummer has the most people working from home (6.8%).
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 | Benton | Dummer | Lyman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 386 |
299Lowest |
464Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | — | +9.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 62.1±1.9Highest 43% above NH |
53.6±6.4Lowest 24% 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 | 6.7%±4.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.4%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±6.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Dummer and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 37.3%±12.5 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±4.6Lowest 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+ | 18.2% NH: 40.6% |
16.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
27.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
0%±5.7Lowest NH: 6% |
1.5%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Benton and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,895±$4kLowest 31% below NH |
$91,250±$21kHighest 8% below NH |
$71,042±$17k 28% below NH |
| Dummer and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,300±$46k 28% below NH |
$242,200±$51kLowest 40% 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 | — | — | $1,147±$81 23% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,922 56% below NH |
$2,898Lowest 57% below NH |
$3,981Highest 40% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest 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 | 15.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
14.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.1% NH: 72.8% |
94.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
89.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above NH |
25 min 6% below NH |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
| Work from home | 2.6%±3.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
6.8%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
3.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Dummer and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| 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.