Compare towns

Hillsborough vs Lyme vs Hillsborough

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hillsborough has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Hillsborough has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.1%).

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.

MeasureHillsboroughLymeHillsborough
People
Population
5,980Highest
1,710
1,616Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-1.2%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+1.7%
NH: +4.6%
+9.1%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
40.9±4.6Lowest
6% below NH
48.6±7.8
12% above NH
49.9±16Highest
15% above NH
Hillsborough and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.4%±4.6
NH: 18.2%
19.5%±3.4Highest
NH: 18.2%
12.2%±5.6Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Lyme and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.4%±3.9Lowest
NH: 20.1%
26.5%±2.8
NH: 20.1%
32.7%±7.6Highest
NH: 20.1%
Hillsborough and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
23.9%
NH: 40.6%
70.1%Highest
NH: 40.6%
16.5%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.6%±1.6
NH: 6%
3.3%±1.9Highest
NH: 6%
2%±2.1Lowest
NH: 6%
Lyme and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,495±$12k
15% below NH
$133,906±$15kHighest
35% above NH
$49,205±$28kLowest
50% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$272,300±$16k
32% below NH
$645,000±$64kHighest
60% above NH
$265,200±$51kLowest
34% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,198±$390
20% below NH
$1,418±$130Highest
5% below NH
$1,138±$201Lowest
24% below NH
Lyme and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,815
13% below NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$5,437Lowest
18% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
61.7%±23.1
NH: 48.2%
52.8%±29.8Lowest
NH: 48.2%
64.8%±22.9Highest
NH: 48.2%
Hillsborough and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6%
NH: 7.2%
4.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
10.4%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
80.5%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
80.5%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1974
5 yrs older than NH
1977Highest
2 yrs older than NH
1944Lowest
35 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
41 min
54% above NH
21 minLowest
22% below NH
41 minHighest
55% above NH
Work from home
14%±5.2
NH: 16.8%
27.2%±5.4Highest
NH: 16.8%
10.2%±7.2Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #97 of 120 in NH — #97 of 120 in NH
School district Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District Lyme School District —
High school in town Hillsboro-Deering High School None in town —
Students per teacherat that high school
9.5
— —
On TownTapestry
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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.