Compare towns
Lyme vs Bethlehem vs Hancock
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).
Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($288k median).
Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).
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 | Bethlehem | Hancock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
2,537Highest |
1,791 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH |
50.6±8.5 17% above NH |
53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH |
| Hancock and Bethlehem 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%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
15.4%±2.2Lowest 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%±5.5 NH: 20.1% |
30.2%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hancock and Bethlehem 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% |
53.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
4%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Hancock 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 |
$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
$95,208±$15k 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
$436,700±$22k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Highest 5% below NH |
$1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH |
$1,208±$650 19% below NH |
| Lyme and Hancock 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 |
$5,418Lowest 19% below NH |
$6,884 3% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3 NH: 48.2% |
32.4%±55.6Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below NH |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±3.2Lowest 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 | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Profile Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9 |
— |
| 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.