Compare towns
Hollis vs Lyme vs Orford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hollis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Hollis | Lyme | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,603Highest |
1,710 |
1,295Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
0%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.4±5Highest 14% above NH |
48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH |
48.9±3.3 13% above NH |
| Hollis and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hollis and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Orford and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $168,883±$22kHighest 71% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$92,571±$24kLowest 7% below NH |
| Hollis and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $675,900±$48kHighest 68% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$271,900±$25kLowest 32% below NH |
| Hollis and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,598±$302Highest 7% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,263±$686Lowest 15% below NH |
| Hollis and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,836Lowest 12% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±19.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.8%±10.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
5.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
75.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 29%±6.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hollis and Lyme 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 | #8 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District | Lyme School District | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | Hollis-Brookline High School | None in town | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
| 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.