Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Auburn 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
Dunbarton has the most affordable homes ($484k median).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Dunbarton | Auburn | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,097 |
6,119Highest |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7 11% above NH |
44.3±5.9Lowest about the NH average |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Lyme and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Dunbarton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,348±$21kLowest 26% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
| Auburn and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $484,100±$33kLowest 20% above NH |
$600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
| Lyme and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
| Auburn and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233 23% above NH |
$8,092Lowest 21% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Dunbarton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3% NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 25% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Auburn 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Auburn School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.