Compare towns
Lyme vs Somersworth vs Plaistow
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%).
Somersworth has the most renters (42.2% rent).
Plaistow 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.
| Measure | Lyme | Somersworth | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
12,111Highest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
38.4±2.7Lowest 11% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
| Lyme and Plaistow 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% |
19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Somersworth and Plaistow 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% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Somersworth 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±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
| Lyme and Plaistow 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 |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
| Plaistow and Somersworth 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 |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
$7,194 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Somersworth and Plaistow 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% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #117 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | Somersworth School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Somersworth High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
11.4 |
| 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.