What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).

Madison has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lyme	Madison
People
Population	1,710Lowest	2,680Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+2.5%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH	50.3±9.7Highest 16% above NH
	Madison and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2%	23.1%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2%
	Madison and Lyme 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%	23.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Lyme and Madison 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%	37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.9Highest NH: 6%	1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Lyme and Madison 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	$102,697±$11kLowest 4% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH	$388,700±$36kLowest 3% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH	$1,556±$256Highest 4% above NH
	Madison 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	$4,074Lowest 39% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.8%±29.8Lowest NH: 48.2%	69.2%±46Highest NH: 48.2%
	Madison and Lyme 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%	4.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%	94.4%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH	1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 22% below NH	22 minHighest 17% below NH
Work from home	27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8%	8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
School district	Lyme School District	Madison School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.