Compare towns
Lyme vs Mont Vernon vs Kensington
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).
Mont Vernon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
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 | Mont Vernon | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
2,636Highest |
2,009 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+7.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
42.9±2.8Lowest about the NH average |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| Lyme and Kensington 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% |
22.1%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Mont Vernon 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% |
15.6%±3.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.8% NH: 40.6% |
48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Mont Vernon and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15kLowest 35% above NH |
$158,036±$19k 60% above NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
| Kensington and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$526,300±$39kLowest 31% above NH |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
| Kensington and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,104±$185Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
| Kensington 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 |
$9,432Lowest 41% above NH |
$9,637 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8 NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Mont Vernon 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 | — | #4 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | Mont Vernon School District | Kensington 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.