Compare towns
Lyme vs New Castle vs Rye
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 affordable homes ($645k median).
New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k median).
Rye has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
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 | New Castle | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710 |
827Lowest |
5,611Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.3% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH |
62.8±6Highest 45% above NH |
55.1±3 27% above NH |
| New Castle and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±7.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Rye 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% |
31.7%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
| New Castle and Rye 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% NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Lyme and Rye 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 |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
| New Castle and Rye 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 |
$1,028,100±$89k 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$3,501Highest 135% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,509 28% above NH |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±85.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Rye 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% NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
40.1%±19.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
| New Castle and Rye 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 | — | — | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | New Castle School District | Rye 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.