Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Lee vs Lyme vs Sutton
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Lee has the youngest population (median age 42.9).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
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 | Lee | Lyme | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,097 |
4,576Highest |
1,710Lowest |
2,239 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7 11% above NH |
42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
48.1±4.1 11% above NH |
| Lyme and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±4.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.6%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Lee 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% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6 NH: 6% |
| Lee and Sutton 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 |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$130,313±$31k 32% above NH |
| Lyme and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$362,600±$16kLowest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
— | $1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,656±$614Highest 11% above NH |
| Sutton 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 |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,652Lowest 15% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest 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% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 25% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
29 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Lyme 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Lyme School District | Kearsarge Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.