Compare towns
Lyme vs Hancock vs New London vs Newfields
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Hancock | New London | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
1,791 |
4,433Highest |
2,023 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.7% NH: +4.6% |
+0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH |
52.8±6.7 22% above NH |
44.1±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
| Hancock and New London 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% |
15.4%±2.2 NH: 18.2% |
12%±3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Newfields 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% |
30.2%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
37.5%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| New London and Hancock 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% |
53.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.6% NH: 40.6% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
20.8%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$95,208±$15kLowest 4% below NH |
$107,773±$10k 9% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$436,700±$22kLowest 8% above NH |
$554,100±$64k 38% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
| Newfields 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 5% below NH |
$1,208±$650Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,594±$551 7% above NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
| Newfields and New London 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 |
$6,884 3% above NH |
$6,325Lowest 5% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
32.4%±55.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
71.8%±22.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
| New London and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
0.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.6% NH: 72.8% |
90.8% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±3.2 NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±7.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Newfields 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 | — | — | #17 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Kearsarge Regional School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | None 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 |
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.