Compare towns
Durham vs Lee 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
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Lee | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,681Highest |
4,576 |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Lyme and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest 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+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25kLowest 13% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% 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 | $498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
— | $1,418±$130Highest 5% below NH |
| Lyme and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,661Lowest 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
21 min 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Oyster River Coop School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.