Compare towns
Lyme vs Stratham vs Thetford vs Newington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k 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 | Stratham | Thetford | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
7,754Highest |
2,813 |
939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2 12% above U.S. |
48.7±10.1Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Newington and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±11Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newington and Lyme 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
68% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thetford and Stratham 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 66% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$88,045±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$145,833±$46k 81% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$2,292±$795 62% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Newington 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 221% above U.S. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
$6,948 123% above U.S. |
$6,081Lowest 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.9%±44 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Stratham 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 | — | #43 of 120 in NH | #40 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Thetford School District | Newington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.