Compare towns
Lyme vs Bennington vs Warner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
Warner has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.7%).
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.
| Measure | Lyme | Bennington | Warner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710 |
1,588Lowest |
2,959Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
43.7±4 about the NH average |
| Lyme and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.3%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington 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% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±3.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Warner 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% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Warner 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 |
$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
$94,022±$18k 5% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
$353,100±$22k 12% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Highest 5% below NH |
$1,292±$150 13% below NH |
$1,219±$123Lowest 18% below NH |
| Lyme and Bennington 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 |
$5,944Lowest 11% below NH |
$7,650 15% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.7%±21.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Warner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
32 min 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.6%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lyme School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Kearsarge Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.