Compare towns
Lyme vs Bethlehem vs Newbury
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).
Newbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
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 | Newbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
2,537Highest |
2,027 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH |
50.6±8.5 17% above NH |
53.3±3.6Highest 23% above NH |
| Newbury 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% |
17%±3.2Lowest 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%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
23.6%±3.7Lowest 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% |
53% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Newbury 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 |
$116,477±$18k 18% above NH |
| Lyme and Newbury 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 |
$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
$463,400±$36k 15% above 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 |
$5,695 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50%±24.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Newbury 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% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below NH |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.1%±7.3Lowest 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 | 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.