Compare towns
Lyme vs Keene 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.7%).
Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).
Orford has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
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 | Keene | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710 |
22,939Highest |
1,295Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
0% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
48.9±3.3Highest 13% above NH |
| Orford 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% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Orford 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% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
44%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
5%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$92,571±$24k 7% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$271,900±$25k 32% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Highest 5% below NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,263±$686Lowest 15% below NH |
| Lyme and Keene 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 |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$5,836Lowest 12% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
37.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Keene 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% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1971 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #81 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | Keene School District | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.