Compare towns
Lyme vs Madbury vs Nottingham 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).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Nottingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.3%).
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 | Madbury | Nottingham | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
2,203 |
5,357Highest |
2,023 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+9.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
38.8±6.7 10% below NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
| Lyme and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Nottingham 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% |
14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
18.4%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
40.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Nottingham 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 |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$122,201±$20kLowest 23% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$457,500±$26kLowest 14% 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±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$2,068±$1kHighest 39% above NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
| Nottingham and Newfields 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,319Lowest 10% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Lyme 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% |
4.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
94.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
1991 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±5.8 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 | — | — | #15 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Nottingham 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.