What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).

Ossipee has the most affordable homes ($326k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lyme	Ossipee
People
Population	1,710Lowest	4,521Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.7%Highest NH: +4.6%	+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH	50±4.6Highest 15% above NH
	Ossipee 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%	19.5%±4.5 NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1%	26.3%±5.9Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Lyme and Ossipee 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%	24.8%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.9Highest NH: 6%	2.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6%
	Lyme and Ossipee 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	$90,521±$22kLowest 9% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH	$325,500±$23kLowest 19% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH	$1,601±$245Highest 7% above NH
	Ossipee and Lyme 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	$4,401Lowest 34% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.8%±29.8Lowest NH: 48.2%	72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2%
	Ossipee and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%	8.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%	82%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH	1979Highest same as NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 22% below NH	33 minHighest 25% above NH
Work from home	27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8%	5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#100 of 120 in NH
School district	Lyme School District	Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.