Compare towns
Lyme vs Lebanon vs Auburn
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 oldest population (median age 48.6).
Lebanon has the most renters (48.8% rent).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
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 | Lebanon | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
14,999Highest |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| Lyme and Auburn 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% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Lebanon 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% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Lebanon 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 35% above NH |
$98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
| Auburn and Lyme 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 |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
| Lyme and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
| Auburn and Lebanon 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 |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$8,092Lowest 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Lebanon 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% |
7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Auburn 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 | — | #29 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | Lebanon School District | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lebanon High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7 |
— |
| 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.