Compare towns
Eliot vs Lyme vs Sanbornton
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Sanbornton has the youngest population (median age 41.9).
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 | Lyme | Sanbornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146Highest |
1,710Lowest |
3,053 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
41.9±5.4Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Lyme 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% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lyme and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$113,750±$41k 41% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Sanbornton 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. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$452,300±$30kLowest 36% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,289±$198Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Lyme 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,731 84% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.3%±23.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±6.1Lowest 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 | — | #42 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Lyme School District | Winnisquam Regional 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 |
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.