Compare towns
Hollis vs Lyme vs Pepperell vs Nashua
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Nashua has the most renters (44.2% rent).
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 | Pepperell | Nashua |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,603 |
1,710Lowest |
11,663 |
91,294Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.4±5Highest 27% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
40±1.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Hollis and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hollis and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Pepperell and Nashua 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 109% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$96,326±$5kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| 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 103% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$403,900±$11kLowest 21% above U.S. |
| 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±$302 13% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,737±$41Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Nashua and Hollis 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 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,698Lowest 115% above U.S. |
$6,799 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±19.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±4.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 3% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 29%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #153 of 282 in MA | #67 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District | Lyme School District | North Middlesex | Nashua School District |
| High school in town | Hollis-Brookline High School | None in town | None in town | Nashua High School South |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Lowest |
— | — | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.