Compare towns
Brookline vs Lyme vs Nottingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Nottingham has the most affordable homes ($458k 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 | Brookline | Lyme | Nottingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,736Highest |
1,710Lowest |
5,357 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
38.8±6.7Lowest 10% below NH |
| Lyme and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.4%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$122,201±$20kLowest 23% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$457,500±$26kLowest 14% above NH |
| Lyme and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$2,068±$1k 39% above NH |
| Brookline and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,319Lowest 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1992 13 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±5.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Brookline 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | — | #15 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brookline School District | Lyme School District | Nottingham School District |
| High school in town | None 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.