Compare towns
Lyme vs Eliot vs Stratham vs Wilmot
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 most people working from home (27.2%).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Wilmot has the most affordable homes ($400k median).
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 | Eliot | Stratham | Wilmot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
7,146 |
7,754Highest |
1,487Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
53±2.4Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Wilmot and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Stratham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$117,759±$15k 46% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$399,600±$43kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Stratham 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 |
$1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,125±$289Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Stratham and Eliot 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. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
$6,651 113% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±41.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Eliot 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% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Stratham 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 | — | #19 of 133 in ME | #43 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.