Compare towns
Carroll vs Lyman vs Center Harbor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Carroll has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
Lyman has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Center Harbor has the most people working from home (8.9%).
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 | Carroll | Lyman | Center Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 659 |
464Lowest |
955Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 62.4±4.8Highest 44% above NH |
60.8±6.5 40% above NH |
60.4±4.8Lowest 39% above NH |
| Carroll and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 7%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyman and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 39.5%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
38.6%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2% NH: 40.6% |
27.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
47.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
1.5%±1.2 NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Carroll and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,821±$26kLowest 35% below NH |
$71,042±$17k 28% below NH |
$104,313±$16kHighest 5% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $261,500±$42kLowest 35% below NH |
$311,100±$66k 23% below NH |
$463,800±$74kHighest 15% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$241Lowest 28% below NH |
$1,147±$81Highest 23% below NH |
— |
| Lyman and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,356Lowest 50% below NH |
$3,981 40% below NH |
$4,667Highest 30% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28%±47.5 NH: 48.2% |
58.3%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyman and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.5% NH: 7.2% |
14.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
89.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 19% below NH |
24 min 10% below NH |
25 minHighest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 4.6%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
3.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Center Harbor and Carroll 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.