Compare towns
Lyme vs Durham vs Dorchester vs Orford
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 the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Orford has the oldest housing (typical home built 1971).
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 | Dorchester | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
15,080Highest |
410Lowest |
1,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— | 0%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
48.9±3.3 13% above NH |
| Dorchester and Orford 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% |
11.2%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester and Lyme 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% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
— | $92,571±$24kLowest 7% 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 |
$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
$271,900±$25k 32% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,429±$143Highest 4% below NH |
— | $1,263±$686Lowest 15% 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 |
$3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
$5,836 12% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
37.8%±10.7 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% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
40 minHighest 50% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
12.2%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest 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 | — | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | Oyster River Coop School District | — | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | — | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.