Compare towns
Lee vs Atkinson 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
Lee has the most affordable homes ($481k median).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Lee | Atkinson | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576 |
7,267Highest |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
| Atkinson and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±6.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Atkinson and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% NH: 40.6% |
42.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.8%±4Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Atkinson and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54kLowest 33% above NH |
$146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
| Atkinson and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61kLowest 19% above NH |
$555,200±$65k 38% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
| Lyme and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,418±$130Highest 5% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661 45% above NH |
$6,918Lowest 4% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | 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.