Compare towns
Danbury vs Lyme vs Effingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danbury has the most affordable homes ($241k median).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).
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 | Danbury | Lyme | Effingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,451Lowest |
1,710 |
1,912Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.4±5.8 9% above NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
46.9±12.4Lowest 8% above NH |
| Lyme and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 23.7%±5 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lyme and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,685±$11kLowest 28% below NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$76,607±$14k 23% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,700±$35kLowest 40% below NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$322,700±$30k 20% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,281±$390 14% below NH |
$1,418±$130Highest 5% below NH |
$1,090±$121Lowest 27% below NH |
| Lyme and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,760Lowest 44% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,163 23% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±36.3 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
13.6%±40.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Danbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 35% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
32 min 18% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.1%±4.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Lyme School District | Governor Wentworth Regional 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.