Compare towns
Dorchester vs Lyme vs Weare
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 most expensive homes ($645k median).
Weare has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
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 | Weare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 410Lowest |
1,710 |
9,170Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
45.6±4Lowest 5% 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% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Lyme 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% |
13.5%±3Lowest 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% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Weare and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | — | $133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$118,271±$17kLowest 19% above NH |
| Lyme and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$396,300±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,541±$214Highest 3% above NH |
| Weare 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,272 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Weare 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% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
36 min 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Weare 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 | — | — | #84 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Lyme School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | John Stark Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| 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.