Compare towns
Danby vs Lyme vs Windham vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danby has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Wells has the most affordable homes ($243k 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.
| Measure | Danby | Lyme | Windham | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,133Lowest |
1,710 |
16,038Highest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 35% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2 30% above U.S. |
| Danby and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Windham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13k 4% below U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41k 18% below U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$243,000±$42kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Windham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,313±$282 7% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,308Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Windham 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 | — | — | #13 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Lyme School District | Windham School District | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.