Compare towns
Dover vs Enfield vs Lyme vs Newfields
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Enfield has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Dover | Enfield | Lyme | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
4,475 |
1,710Lowest |
2,023 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
58.3±5.4Highest 35% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
| Enfield and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
7.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 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+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
30.7%±7.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Enfield and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% NH: 40.6% |
43%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.7%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$95,474±$19k 4% below NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$390,800±$71kLowest about the NH average |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
| Newfields and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,181±$563Lowest 21% below NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
| Newfields and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$6,203Lowest 7% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
17.8%±16.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% NH: 7.2% |
16.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
11%±5.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Newfields 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #5 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Dover School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Lyme School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — | — |
| 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.