Compare towns
Lyme vs Newfields vs Stratham vs Townsend
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).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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 | Stratham | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
2,023 |
7,754 |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| 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%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Townsend 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% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Stratham 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% |
69.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Townsend 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. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kLowest 51% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Newfields 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. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Lyme 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | — | #43 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lyme School District | Newfields School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 13.1 |
| 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.