What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lyme has the most affordable homes ($645k median).

New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k 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	New Castle
People
Population	1,710Highest	827Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+3.3%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH	62.8±6Highest 45% above NH
Kids under 18	19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2%	12.9%±7.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Lyme and New Castle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.5%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1%	44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 20.1%
	New Castle and Lyme 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%	68.8%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.9Highest NH: 6%	0.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6%
	Lyme and New Castle 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	$176,953±$29kHighest 79% above NH
	New Castle and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$645,000±$64kLowest 60% above NH	$1,701,300±$267kHighest 323% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH	$3,501Highest 135% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH	$8,509Lowest 28% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2%	0%±85.7Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Lyme and New Castle 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%	4.6%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%	93%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	33 minHighest 22% above NH
Work from home	27.2%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8%	40.1%±19.4Highest NH: 16.8%
	New Castle 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	New Castle 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.