Compare towns
Lyme vs Newmarket vs Wilmot vs Franconia
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%).
Newmarket has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
Wilmot has the most affordable homes ($400k median).
Franconia has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Newmarket | Wilmot | Franconia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
9,463Highest |
1,487 |
1,060Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
41.2±1.9Lowest 5% below NH |
53±2.4 22% above NH |
55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
| Franconia and Wilmot 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% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
15.2%±5.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Wilmot 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% |
16.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.3%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
36.6%±6.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
58.7% NH: 40.6% |
57.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5%±5.4 NH: 6% |
| Newmarket and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$117,759±$15k 19% above NH |
$87,292±$28kLowest 12% below NH |
| Lyme and Wilmot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$399,600±$43kLowest about the NH average |
$530,300±$96k 32% above NH |
| Lyme and Franconia 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 |
$1,671±$69Highest 12% above NH |
$1,125±$289Lowest 25% below NH |
$1,281±$278 14% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,734 31% above NH |
$6,651Lowest about the NH average |
$7,451 12% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
41.1%±41.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia and Lyme 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% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
20 minLowest 25% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Wilmot 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 | — | #39 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | Newmarket School District | — | Lafayette Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.