Compare towns
Lyme vs Mason vs Webster
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 most expensive homes ($645k median).
Mason has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.8%).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
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 | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710 |
1,451Lowest |
2,227Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
43.7±2.3Lowest about the NH average |
44.7±7.6 3% above NH |
| Lyme and Webster 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% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±8 NH: 18.2% |
| Mason and Webster 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%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±1.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.5% NH: 40.6% |
30.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Lyme and Webster 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 |
$111,090±$3k 12% above NH |
$107,171±$14kLowest 8% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$384,000±$21k 5% below NH |
$338,500±$30kLowest 16% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$1,396±$622Lowest 6% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,049 6% above NH |
$6,021Lowest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
53.6%±71 NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Webster 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% NH: 7.2% |
9.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
31 min 14% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
17.1%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lyme School District | Mason School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.