Compare towns
Lyme vs Hebron vs Orford
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%).
Hebron has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Hebron | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Highest |
883Lowest |
1,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
0%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH |
57.9±3.6Highest 34% above NH |
48.9±3.3 13% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.2%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
37.8%±9.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hebron 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% |
47.6% NH: 40.6% |
44%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.4%±4.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Orford 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 |
$91,071±$17kLowest 8% below NH |
$92,571±$24k 7% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$589,500±$61k 46% above NH |
$271,900±$25kLowest 32% below NH |
| Lyme and Hebron 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 |
$1,429±$334Highest 4% below NH |
$1,263±$686Lowest 15% below NH |
| Hebron 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 |
$3,603Lowest 46% below NH |
$5,836 12% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±38.3 NH: 48.2% |
37.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Hebron 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% |
15.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
86.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lyme School District | — | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
| 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.