Compare towns
Lyme vs Surry vs Newington
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%).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
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 | Surry | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Highest |
1,052 |
939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
44.7±5.1Lowest 3% above NH |
48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.7%±4.9Lowest 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% |
28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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 NH: 40.6% |
31.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Surry 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 |
$110,125±$25kLowest 11% above NH |
$145,833±$46kHighest 47% above 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 |
$331,400±$23kLowest 18% below NH |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,955±$374 31% above NH |
$2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
| Newington and Surry 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 |
$6,384 4% below NH |
$6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44Highest 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
23 minHighest 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1 NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest 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 | — | Newington 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.