What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lyme has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.7%).

Nelson has the most affordable homes ($341k 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.

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

Measure	Lyme	Nelson
People
Population	1,710Highest	648Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.7%Highest NH: +4.6%	-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH	42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average
	Lyme and Nelson 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%	27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2%
	Nelson 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%	24.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Lyme and Nelson 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%	61.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.9Highest NH: 6%	0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Lyme and Nelson 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	$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average
	Lyme and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH	$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,418±$130Highest 5% below NH	$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH
	Lyme and Nelson 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	$5,575Lowest 16% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2%	40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Lyme and Nelson 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%	1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%	90.2%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH	1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 22% below NH	24 minHighest 9% below NH
Work from home	27.2%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8%	31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8%
	Nelson and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Lyme School District	Nelson 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.