What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).

Salisbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.9%).

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	Salisbury
People
Population	1,710Highest	1,609Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+2.9%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH	51.5±4.5Highest 19% above NH
	Salisbury and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2%	20.1%±9.6Highest NH: 18.2%
	Salisbury and Lyme 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%	24.9%±4Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Lyme and Salisbury 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%	37.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.9Highest NH: 6%	2%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Lyme and Salisbury 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	$111,591±$17kLowest 13% above NH
	Lyme and Salisbury 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	$363,400±$47kLowest 10% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH	$1,917±$632Highest 29% above NH
	Salisbury 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	$5,859Lowest 12% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2%	0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Lyme and Salisbury 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%	7.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%	96.9%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH	1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 22% below NH	32 minHighest 20% above NH
Work from home	27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8%	23.3%±10.6Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Lyme and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Lyme School District	Merrimack Valley 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.