Compare towns
Lyme vs Ogunquit vs Bedford
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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Bedford has the highest household income ($167k).
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 | Ogunquit | Bedford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710 |
1,379Lowest |
23,746Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
45±2.2Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bedford 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
63%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bedford and Ogunquit 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. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$167,418±$12kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$612,100±$26kLowest 84% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
— | $2,099±$274Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$9,803 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59.4%±15.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bedford and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Lyme 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 | — | — | #7 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | — | Bedford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Bedford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.