Compare towns
Lyme vs Surry vs Dorchester
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 expensive homes ($645k median).
Surry has the youngest population (median age 44.7).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k 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 | Surry | Dorchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Highest |
1,052 |
410Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
44.7±5.1Lowest 3% above NH |
56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
| Dorchester 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 NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Surry 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 NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester 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 NH: 40.6% |
31.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Surry 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 |
$110,125±$25kLowest 11% above NH |
— |
| Lyme and Surry 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 |
$331,400±$23k 18% below NH |
$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,955±$374Highest 31% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,384 4% below NH |
$3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Surry 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% |
3.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.6% NH: 72.8% |
96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
40 minHighest 50% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1 NH: 16.8% |
12.2%±8.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lyme School District | — | — |
| High school 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.