Compare towns
Lyme vs Seabrook vs Newington 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%).
Seabrook has the oldest population (median age 54).
Newington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
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 | Seabrook | Newington | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
8,427Highest |
939Lowest |
1,295 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-3.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
0% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH |
54±1.9Highest 25% above NH |
48.7±10.1 12% above NH |
48.9±3.3 13% above NH |
| Seabrook 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% |
14.8%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
15.7%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Newington 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% |
31.5%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
28%±11 NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Seabrook and Newington 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% |
27.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.4% NH: 40.6% |
44% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Orford and Newington 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 |
$84,349±$15kLowest 15% below NH |
$145,833±$46kHighest 47% above NH |
$92,571±$24k 7% below NH |
| Newington 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 |
$443,500±$40k 10% above NH |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
$271,900±$25kLowest 32% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,542±$174 3% above NH |
$2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$1,263±$686Lowest 15% below NH |
| Newington and Seabrook 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 |
$5,785Lowest 13% below NH |
$6,081 9% below NH |
$5,836 12% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±10 NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Newington 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% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
68.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #114 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | Seabrook School District | Newington School District | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.5 |
| 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.