Compare towns
Lyme vs Durham vs Newfields vs Dorchester
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 people working from home (27.2%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Newfields has the most expensive homes ($646k median).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k 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 | Newfields | Dorchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
15,080Highest |
2,023 |
410Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
| Dorchester 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% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
11.2%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9 NH: 20.1% |
39.8%±15.5Highest 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% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
— |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
| 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±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
— |
| 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 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
15.1% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3% NH: 72.8% |
96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
40 minHighest 50% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
12.2%±8.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | — | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Newfields School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| 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.