Compare towns
Lyme vs Seabrook Beach 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Seabrook Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
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 | Seabrook Beach | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710 |
1,001Lowest |
2,023Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
62±3.8Highest 43% above NH |
44.1±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
5.2%±3.1Lowest 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%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
42.1%±7.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.2%±3.2Lowest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Newfields 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 |
$93,571±$43kLowest 6% below NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kLowest 60% above NH |
$920,900±$75kHighest 129% above NH |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,725±$575 16% above NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
| Newfields and Seabrook Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+ at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+ at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
90.5%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Seabrook Beach 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% |
7.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
74.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
39.5%±20Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Seabrook Beach and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lyme School District | — | Newfields School District |
| High school 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.