What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).

Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).

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	Lyme	Barnstead
People
Population	1,710Lowest	4,994Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+7%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH	42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average
	Lyme and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2%	21%±5Highest NH: 18.2%
	Barnstead and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1%	20.6%±4.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Lyme and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	70.1%Highest NH: 40.6%	30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6%	5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6%
	Barnstead and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH	$111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH
	Lyme and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH	$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,418±$130Highest 5% below NH	$1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH
	Lyme and Barnstead 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 50% above NH	$6,003Lowest 10% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2%	47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Lyme and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Highest NH: 7.2%	3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%	93.6%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 22% below NH	31 minHighest 16% above NH
Work from home	27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8%	13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#111 of 120 in NH
School district	Lyme School District	Barnstead School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
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.