Compare towns
Lyme vs Ogunquit vs Rye vs Orford
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%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Ogunquit | Rye | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
1,379 |
5,611Highest |
1,295Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Lowest 25% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
55.1±3 42% above U.S. |
48.9±3.3 26% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Rye 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% |
31.7%±5.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Rye 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% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
61.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
44%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orford 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±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$140,655±$39kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$92,571±$24kLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Rye 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 94% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79k 163% above U.S. |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 209% above U.S. |
$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rye and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
— | $1,781±$156Highest 26% above U.S. |
$1,263±$686Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$7,519 141% above U.S. |
$5,836 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.3%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±10.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Rye 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.9%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Rye 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 | — | — | #2 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | — | Rye School District | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.