Compare towns
Lee vs Lyme vs Wilder vs Deerfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Deerfield has the youngest population (median age 42.8).
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 | Wilder | Deerfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
1,710Lowest |
3,087 |
4,932Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+13.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 10% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
42.8±4.2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Lee and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder 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±$54k 63% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$131,563±$10k 63% above U.S. |
| 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 44% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$421,000±$33k 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,593±$318Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Deerfield and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661 210% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$7,369 136% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
17.4%±17.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.4%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | — | #61 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Lyme School District | — | Deerfield 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 | 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.