Compare towns
Lyme vs Weare vs Dorchester vs Wilmot
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).
Weare has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
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 | Weare | Dorchester | Wilmot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
9,170Highest |
410Lowest |
1,487 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.5% NH: +4.6% |
— | +3.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
45.6±4Lowest 5% above NH |
56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
53±2.4 22% above NH |
| Dorchester and Wilmot 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% |
22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Weare 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% |
13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.3%±4.6 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% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
58.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3%±3.4 NH: 6% |
| Weare 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 |
$118,271±$17k 19% above NH |
— | $117,759±$15kLowest 19% above NH |
| Lyme and Weare 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 |
$396,300±$26k about the NH average |
$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
$399,600±$43k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,541±$214Highest 3% above NH |
— | $1,125±$289Lowest 25% below NH |
| Weare and Lyme 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 |
$6,272 6% below NH |
$3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
$6,651 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.1%±41.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Weare and Lyme 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
36 min 34% above NH |
40 minHighest 50% above NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
12.2%±8.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Weare 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 | — | #84 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | — | — |
| High school in town | None in town | John Stark Regional High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.