Compare towns
Lyme vs Greenland vs Portsmouth vs Thetford
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 oldest population (median age 48.6).
Greenland has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.6%).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k 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 | Greenland | Portsmouth | Thetford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
4,106 |
22,545Highest |
2,813 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
48.4±7.7 24% above U.S. |
42.9±2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2 12% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Greenland 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% |
19.8%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Greenland 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% |
28.9%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Greenland 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% |
59.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64% U.S.: 35.7% |
68% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thetford and Portsmouth 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. |
$162,837±$11kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
$88,045±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$662,800±$42k 99% above U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Portsmouth and Greenland 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 |
$2,331±$363Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,869±$111 32% above U.S. |
$1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Greenland and Portsmouth 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. |
$7,420 138% above U.S. |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
$6,948Lowest 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
77.3%±44.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Greenland and Lyme 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% |
0.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.2%±7.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Greenland and Lyme 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 | — | #10 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH | #40 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lyme School District | Greenland School District | Portsmouth School District | Thetford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
— |
| 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.