Compare towns
Center Harbor vs Holderness vs Lyme
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
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 | Center Harbor | Holderness | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 955Lowest |
1,917Highest |
1,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
39.4±7.4Lowest 9% below NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
| Center Harbor and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Center Harbor and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.7% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Lyme and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,313±$16kLowest 5% above NH |
$107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
| Lyme and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$74k 15% above NH |
$363,100±$60kLowest 10% below NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,667 30% below NH |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.7% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | Holderness School District | Lyme 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.