Compare towns
Dorchester vs Epping 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
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Epping has the youngest population (median age 45.1).
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.
| Measure | Dorchester | Epping | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 410Lowest |
7,430Highest |
1,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
| Dorchester and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Epping and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | — | $104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
| Epping and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Epping 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Epping School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | — | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— |
| 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.