Compare towns
Lyme vs Durham vs Hartford vs Newfields
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyme has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Hartford | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
15,080Highest |
10,736 |
2,023 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Durham 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 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Newfields 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 | #34 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Hartford School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | Hartford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
9.6Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.