What stands out worked out from the figures below

Epsom has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.9%).

Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Epsom	Lyme
People
Population	4,939Highest	1,710Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.9%Highest NH: +4.6%	+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	47.1±3.4Lowest 9% above NH	48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH
	Lyme and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 18.2%	19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2%
	Lyme and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 20.1%	26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1%
	Lyme and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40.6%Lowest NH: 40.6%	70.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.2%±2.4Highest NH: 6%	3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6%
	Epsom and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$97,941±$13kLowest about the NH average	$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$338,400±$19kLowest 16% below NH	$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,212±$437Lowest 19% below NH	$1,418±$130Highest 5% below NH
	Lyme and Epsom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,210Lowest 7% below NH	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	71.2%±19.7Highest NH: 48.2%	52.8%±29.8Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Epsom and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%	4.4%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	87.6%Highest NH: 72.8%	80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 15% above NH	21 minLowest 22% below NH
Work from home	13.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8%	27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#69 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Epsom School District	Lyme School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.