What stands out worked out from the figures below

Chichester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).

Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Chichester	Lyme
People
Population	2,745Highest	1,710Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	43±3.3Lowest about the NH average	48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH
	Lyme and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.3%±4.4Highest NH: 18.2%	19.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Chichester and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±3Lowest NH: 20.1%	26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6%	70.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6%	3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6%
	Chichester and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$109,297±$13kLowest 10% above NH	$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH
	Lyme and Chichester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$409,300±$26kLowest about the NH average	$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$2,055±$275Highest 38% above NH	$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,189Lowest 8% above NH	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.6%±34.4Highest NH: 48.2%	52.8%±29.8Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Chichester and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6%Highest NH: 7.2%	4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.6%Highest NH: 72.8%	80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 13% above NH	21 minLowest 22% below NH
Work from home	19%±8Lowest NH: 16.8%	27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8%
	Lyme and Chichester 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	#75 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Chichester 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

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.