Compare towns
Lyme vs Plaistow vs Dorchester vs Wilmot
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 expensive homes ($645k median).
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k 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 | Plaistow | Dorchester | Wilmot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
7,861Highest |
410Lowest |
1,487 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
— | +3.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
53±2.4 22% above NH |
| Dorchester and Wilmot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±3.2 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% |
17.4%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.3%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester 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% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.8% NH: 40.6% |
58.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3%±3.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
— | $117,759±$15k 19% above 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 |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
$399,600±$43k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
— | $1,125±$289Lowest 25% below NH |
| Plaistow 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 |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
$6,651 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.1%±41.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow 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% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
40 minHighest 50% above NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
12.2%±8.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±3.8 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 | — | #66 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | Timberlane Regional School District | — | — |
| High school 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 | 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.