Compare towns
Lyme vs Portsmouth vs Wilmot vs Orford
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 people working from home (27.2%).
Portsmouth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Wilmot has the oldest population (median age 53).
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 | Portsmouth | Wilmot | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
22,545Highest |
1,487 |
1,295Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
0%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
53±2.4Highest 22% above NH |
48.9±3.3 13% above NH |
| Wilmot and Orford 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%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Wilmot 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%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.3%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Orford 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% NH: 40.6% |
58.7% NH: 40.6% |
44%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Orford 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±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$117,759±$15k 19% above NH |
$92,571±$24kLowest 7% below 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±$64k 60% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$399,600±$43k about the NH average |
$271,900±$25kLowest 32% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,125±$289Lowest 25% below NH |
$1,263±$686 15% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$6,651 about the NH average |
$5,836Lowest 12% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.1%±41.8 NH: 48.2% |
37.8%±10.7Lowest 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% |
2.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1971 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Portsmouth 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 | — | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School | — | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
— | 9.5Lowest |
| 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.