Compare towns
Lyme vs Dover vs Barrington
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).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Barrington has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Dover | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
33,364Highest |
9,489 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
38.7±2.3 11% below NH |
| Lyme and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington 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% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
42.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Barrington 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 |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$110,323±$14k 11% above NH |
| Lyme and Barrington 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 |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$399,100±$30kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
| Barrington and Dover 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 |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$7,121Lowest 7% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.1%±25.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Barrington and Lyme 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% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Barrington 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | #65 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | Dover School District | Barrington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| 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.