Compare towns
Lyme vs Portsmouth vs Newfields
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 oldest population (median age 48.6).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Portsmouth | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
22,545Highest |
2,023 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
| Lyme and Newfields 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% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Portsmouth 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% |
64%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Portsmouth 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 35% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kLowest 60% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
| Newfields and Portsmouth 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 |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Portsmouth 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% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Newfields 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 | — | #11 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | Portsmouth School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.