Compare towns
Dorchester vs Wolfeboro 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).
Wolfeboro has the most renters (21.9% rent).
Lyme has the most kids (19.5% 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 | Wolfeboro | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 410Lowest |
6,571Highest |
1,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +2.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±10.5 29% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Dorchester 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% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Wolfeboro 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% |
34.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester and Wolfeboro 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% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Lyme and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | — | $94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
| Lyme and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,418±$130Highest 5% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
$4,531 32% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Wolfeboro 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% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Wolfeboro 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 | — | #46 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | — | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.