Compare towns
Lyme vs Mason vs Newfields vs Stratham
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).
Mason has the most affordable homes ($384k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Stratham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
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 | Mason | Newfields | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
1,451Lowest |
2,023 |
7,754Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
| 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% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Mason and Stratham 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% |
15.6%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Stratham 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% |
39.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Stratham 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 |
$111,090±$3kLowest 12% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$384,000±$21kLowest 5% below NH |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
| Stratham and Newfields 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 |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$2,511±$377 68% above NH |
| Mason and Stratham 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 |
$7,049Lowest 6% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Stratham 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% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 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 | — | — | — | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | Mason School District | Newfields School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham 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.