What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).

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	Chester
People
Population	1,710Lowest	5,300Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH	47.2±3.8Lowest 9% above NH
	Lyme and Chester 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%	19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2%
	Chester 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%	17.4%±4Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	70.1%Highest NH: 40.6%	41.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6%	4.4%±2.1Highest NH: 6%
	Chester 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±$15kLowest 35% above NH	$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH
	Chester and Lyme 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	$552,300±$42kLowest 37% above NH
	Lyme and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,418±$130 5% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH	$8,464Lowest 27% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2%	19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Lyme and Chester 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%	4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%	97.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH	1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 22% below NH	35 minHighest 31% above NH
Work from home	27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8%	16.4%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#90 of 120 in NH
School district	Lyme School District	Chester 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.