Compare towns
Lyme vs Durham vs Rollinsford
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).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
Rollinsford has the most affordable homes ($398k median).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Rollinsford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
10,681Highest |
2,626 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
38.8±5.5 10% below NH |
| Lyme and Rollinsford 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% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Rollinsford 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% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$89,500±$26kLowest 10% below NH |
| Lyme and Durham 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 |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$398,100±$33kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,809±$394Highest 21% above NH |
| Rollinsford and Lyme 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,851Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±26.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham 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% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Rollinsford 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | #94 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | — | Rollinsford 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 |
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.