Compare towns
Hillsborough vs Somersworth vs Lyme
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 most homeowners (92.3%).
Somersworth has the most renters (42.2% rent).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
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 | Hillsborough | Somersworth | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,980 |
12,111Highest |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
38.4±2.7Lowest 11% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Lyme and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Somersworth and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
31.4% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Somersworth and Lyme 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 |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$318,400±$23k 21% below NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,477±$134Highest about the NH average |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
| Somersworth and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
$6,805 about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hillsborough and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 54% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #97 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Somersworth School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Somersworth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.5Lowest |
11.4Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.