Compare towns
Eliot vs Henniker vs Lyme 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
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Henniker is a college town. 27% 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 | Eliot | Henniker | Lyme | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146Highest |
6,197 |
1,710 |
939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
31.1±6.1Lowest 20% below U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
48.7±10.1 25% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±11Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newington and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
27%±6.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$95,206±$21kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above 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 | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$356,700±$49kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$1,081±$164Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
| Newington and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$8,877 185% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,081 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.5%±22.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.9%±44Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newington and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 23% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Eliot 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #56 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Henniker School District | Lyme School District | Newington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.