Compare towns
Lyme vs Newfields vs North Hampton vs Thetford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
North Hampton has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k 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 | Newfields | North Hampton | Thetford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
2,023 |
4,543Highest |
2,813 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3Highest 30% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and North Hampton 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$146,458±$29k 81% above U.S. |
$88,045±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$670,400±$61kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
| North Hampton and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,805±$106 28% above U.S. |
$1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Newfields and North Hampton 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 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,529 173% above U.S. |
$6,948Lowest 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and North Hampton 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 | — | — | #12 of 120 in NH | #40 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lyme School District | Newfields School District | North Hampton School District | Thetford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.


