Compare towns
Lyme vs Franconia vs Nottingham
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%).
Franconia has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Nottingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.3%).
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 | Franconia | Nottingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710 |
1,060Lowest |
5,357Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
38.8±6.7Lowest 10% below NH |
| Franconia and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
15.2%±5.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.9%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nottingham 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 NH: 20.1% |
36.6%±6.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.4%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.9% NH: 40.6% |
40.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5%±5.4 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Nottingham and Franconia 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 |
$87,292±$28kLowest 12% below NH |
$122,201±$20k 23% above NH |
| Lyme and Nottingham 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 |
$530,300±$96k 32% above NH |
$457,500±$26kLowest 14% above NH |
| Lyme and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,281±$278Lowest 14% below NH |
$2,068±$1kHighest 39% above NH |
| Nottingham 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 |
$7,451 12% above NH |
$7,319Lowest 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
73.2%±74.4 NH: 48.2% |
92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Franconia 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% |
11.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.1% NH: 72.8% |
94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below NH |
20 minLowest 25% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Nottingham 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 | — | — | #15 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | Lafayette Regional School District | Nottingham 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 |
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.