What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lyman has the most kids (12.3% under 18).

Benton has the most affordable homes ($288k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lyman	Benton
People
Population	464Highest	386Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.8% NH: +4.6%	—
Median age	60.8±6.5Lowest 40% above NH	62.1±1.9Highest 43% above NH
	Benton and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	12.3%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2%	6.7%±4.2Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Lyman and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	38.6%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1%	37.3%±12.5Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Lyman and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.8%Highest NH: 40.6%	18.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.5%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%	1.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6%
	Benton and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$71,042±$17kHighest 28% below NH	$67,895±$4kLowest 31% below NH
	Lyman and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$311,100±$66kHighest 23% below NH	$288,300±$46kLowest 28% below NH
	Lyman and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,147±$81 23% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,981Highest 40% below NH	$2,922Lowest 56% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	58.3%±100Lowest NH: 48.2%	100%±100Highest NH: 48.2%
	Benton and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	14.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%	15.9%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%	92.1%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH	1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	24 minLowest 10% below NH	32 minHighest 20% above NH
Work from home	3.7%±3.6Highest NH: 16.8%	2.6%±3.4Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Lyman and Benton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.