Compare towns
Lee vs Lyme vs Salem
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 homeowners (95.8%).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Salem has the most renters (24.4% 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 | Lee | Lyme | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576 |
1,710Lowest |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
| Lyme and Salem 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% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest 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%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Lee 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% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
| Lee and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
| Lyme and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$473,300±$16kLowest 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH |
| Salem and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661 45% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,992Lowest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
29 minHighest 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest 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 | — | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Lyme School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
| 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.