Compare towns
Lyme vs Dorchester vs Franconia vs Wilmot
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 people working from home (27.2%).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Franconia has the shortest commute (20 min average).
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 | Dorchester | Franconia | Wilmot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710Highest |
410Lowest |
1,060 |
1,487 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
— | -1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH |
56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
55.6±7 28% above NH |
53±2.4 22% above NH |
| Dorchester and Franconia 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% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
15.2%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Wilmot 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% |
39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
36.6%±6.7 NH: 20.1% |
24.3%±4.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester and Franconia 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% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.9% NH: 40.6% |
58.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5%±5.4Highest NH: 6% |
3%±3.4 NH: 6% |
| Franconia 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 |
— | $87,292±$28kLowest 12% below NH |
$117,759±$15k 19% above NH |
| Lyme and Wilmot 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 |
$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
$530,300±$96k 32% above NH |
$399,600±$43k about the NH average |
| Lyme and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Highest 5% below NH |
— | $1,281±$278 14% below NH |
$1,125±$289Lowest 25% below NH |
| Lyme and Franconia 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 |
$3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
$7,451 12% above NH |
$6,651 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.1%±41.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia and Lyme 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% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
11.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.1% NH: 72.8% |
83.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below NH |
40 minHighest 50% above NH |
20 minLowest 25% below NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.2%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Wilmot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Lyme School District | — | Lafayette Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.