Compare towns
Lyme vs Newington vs Plaistow
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 people working from home (27.2%).
Newington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k 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 | Newington | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710 |
939Lowest |
7,861Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
| Newington and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
15.7%±4.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Newington 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% |
62.4% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Newington and Lyme 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 |
$145,833±$46kHighest 47% above NH |
$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
| Newington 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±$64k 60% above NH |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
| Newington and Plaistow 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 50% above NH |
$6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Newington and Plaistow 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% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
86.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | Newington School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
| 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.