Compare towns
Durham vs Lyme vs Hartford vs Newington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Lyme | Hartford | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
1,710 |
10,736 |
939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
48.7±10.1Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Newington and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±11Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newington and Lyme 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$145,833±$46kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Newington and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Newington 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 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$6,081 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.9%±44 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Durham 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 | — | #34 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Lyme School District | Hartford School District | Newington School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | Hartford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
— | 9.6Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.