Compare towns

Dummer vs Wakefield vs Lyman

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dummer has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Wakefield has the highest household income ($101k).
Lyman has the most people working from home (18.9%).

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.

MeasureDummerWakefieldLyman
People
Population
299Lowest
5,405Highest
4,612
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+2.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
53.6±6.4
38% above U.S.
49.4±4.1Lowest
27% above U.S.
53.8±2Highest
38% above U.S.
Lyman and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.4%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.7%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
15.2%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Dummer and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.4%±4.6
U.S.: 17.2%
18.8%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26.1%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Lyman and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
16.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
26.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
25.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.4%±1.1
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Lyman and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$91,250±$21k
13% above U.S.
$100,976±$11kHighest
25% above U.S.
$87,284±$14kLowest
8% above U.S.
Wakefield and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$242,200±$51kLowest
27% below U.S.
$322,800±$43k
about the U.S. average
$360,400±$44kHighest
8% above U.S.
Lyman and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,375±$434Highest
about the U.S. average
$1,063±$522Lowest
25% below U.S.
Wakefield and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,898
7% below U.S.
$2,954Highest
5% below U.S.
$2,717Lowest
13% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±82.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
37.7%±44.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Lyman and Dummer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
96.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
95%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1980Highest
same as U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
5% below U.S.
36 minHighest
35% above U.S.
33 min
26% above U.S.
Work from home
6.8%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.1%±9.3
U.S.: 15.1%
18.9%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Lyman and Wakefield 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 — #118 of 120 in NH #40 of 133 in ME
School district — Wakefield School District RSU 57/MSAD 57
High school in town — None in town None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.