What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).

Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($350k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lyme	Ellsworth
People
Population	1,710Highest	51Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.7% NH: +4.6%	—
Median age	48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH	61.8±13.1Highest 43% above NH
	Ellsworth 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%	13.7%±59.8Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Lyme and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.5%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	39.2%±46.4Highest NH: 20.1%
	Ellsworth 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 NH: 40.6%	25%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.9Highest NH: 6%	0%±33.3Lowest NH: 6%
	Lyme and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH	$89,375±$39kLowest 10% below NH
	Lyme and Ellsworth 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	$350,000±$170kLowest 13% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,418±$130 5% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH	$3,813Lowest 43% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2%	—
Below poverty line	4.4%Highest NH: 7.2%	0%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%	100%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH	1978Highest 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 min 22% below NH	—
Work from home	27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8%	23.1%±26.3Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Lyme and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Lyme School District	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.