Compare towns
Dorchester vs Lyme vs Newfields vs Orford
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).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Newfields has the youngest population (median age 44.1).
Orford has the most renters (24.5% rent).
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 | Lyme | Newfields | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 410Lowest |
1,710 |
2,023Highest |
1,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
0%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
44.1±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
48.9±3.3 13% above NH |
| Dorchester and Orford 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% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Newfields 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% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±4.2 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% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
44% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
5%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | — | $133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$92,571±$24kLowest 7% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$271,900±$25k 32% below NH |
| Newfields and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,263±$686Lowest 15% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,836 12% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
37.8%±10.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Newfields 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% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
95.3% NH: 72.8% |
75.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Lyme School District | Newfields School District | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.