Compare towns
Lyme vs Newfields vs Rochester
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).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
2,023 |
33,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
43±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
| Lyme and Newfields 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% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Newfields 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Rochester 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 35% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
| Newfields 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 |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Newfields 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 | — | — | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | Newfields School District | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.2 |
| 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.