Compare towns
Carroll vs Lyme vs Freedom
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).
Lyme has the highest household income ($134k).
Freedom has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
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 | Lyme | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 659Lowest |
1,710Highest |
1,494 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 62.4±4.8Highest 44% above NH |
48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH |
60.6±3.2 40% above NH |
| Carroll and Freedom 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% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 39.5%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
40.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Freedom and Carroll are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lyme and Carroll 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 |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$66,136±$14k 33% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $261,500±$42kLowest 35% below NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$389,000±$43k 3% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$241Lowest 28% below NH |
$1,418±$130Highest 5% below NH |
— |
| Lyme 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$3,478 48% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 28%±47.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
79.6%±75Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Freedom and Lyme 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% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 19% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 4.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.5%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Lyme School District | Freedom 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.