What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lyme has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.7%).

Bethlehem 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	Lyme	Bethlehem
People
Population	1,710Lowest	2,537Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.7%Highest NH: +4.6%	-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH	50.6±8.5Highest 17% above NH
	Bethlehem and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2%	17.7%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Lyme and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.5%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	28.2%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1%
	Bethlehem and Lyme 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%	45.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.9Highest NH: 6%	0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6%
	Lyme and Bethlehem 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	$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH	$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,418±$130Highest 5% below NH	$1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH	$5,418Lowest 19% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2%	41.3%±18.3Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Lyme and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%	10.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.5%Highest NH: 72.8%	75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH	1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minHighest 22% below NH	20 minLowest 24% below NH
Work from home	27.2%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8%	31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8%
	Bethlehem 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	—	#34 of 120 in NH
School district	Lyme School District	Bethlehem School District · Profile School District
High school in town	None in town	Profile Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	8.9
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.