Compare towns
Lyme vs Rollinsford vs Kensington
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Rollinsford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
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 | Rollinsford | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
2,626Highest |
2,009 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
38.8±5.5Lowest 10% below NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| Lyme and Kensington 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% |
17.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Rollinsford 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% |
19.8%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Rollinsford 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% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
48.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Kensington and Lyme 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 |
$89,500±$26kLowest 10% below NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
| Kensington 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 60% above NH |
$398,100±$33kLowest about the NH average |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
| Kensington and Lyme 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 |
$1,809±$394 21% above NH |
$1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
| Kensington and Rollinsford 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 |
$6,851Lowest about the NH average |
$9,637 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±26.1 NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Rollinsford 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% |
4.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
78.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Rollinsford 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 | — | #94 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | Rollinsford School District | Kensington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.