Compare towns
Lyme vs Surry vs Nelson
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Highest |
1,052 |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
44.7±5.1 3% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
| Lyme and Surry 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% |
20.8%±6.2 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Surry 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% |
23.3%±7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Nelson 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% |
61.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest 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±$25k 11% above NH |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
| 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±$23kLowest 18% below NH |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,955±$374Highest 31% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,384 4% below NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.1% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
24 minHighest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson 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 | — | Nelson 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.