Compare towns
Lyme vs Enfield vs Dover
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 expensive homes ($645k median).
Enfield has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Enfield | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
4,475 |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-2.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
58.3±5.4Highest 35% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Enfield 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% |
7.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Dover 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% |
30.7%±7.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Enfield 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% |
43%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.7%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Dover 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±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$95,474±$19k 4% below NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$390,800±$71kLowest about the NH average |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,181±$563Lowest 21% below NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
| Dover 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 |
$6,203Lowest 7% below NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
17.8%±16.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Dover 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% |
16.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
24 minHighest 11% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
11%±5.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #5 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.