Compare towns
Lyme vs Durham vs Conway
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 kids (19.5% under 18).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Conway has the most affordable homes ($314k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Conway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
15,080Highest |
10,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
55±4.1Highest 27% above NH |
| Conway and Lyme 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
35.1%±5.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5%±3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$64,385±$8kLowest 35% 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 |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$314,000±$43kLowest 22% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH |
$1,095±$141Lowest 27% below NH |
| Durham 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 |
$4,087Lowest 39% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
47.3%±13.9Lowest 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
71.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minHighest 22% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
21 min 23% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Durham 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 | #76 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Conway School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | Kennett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
11.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.