Compare towns
Lyme vs Weare vs Thetford vs Newfields
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).
Weare has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
Thetford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Thetford | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
9,170Highest |
2,813 |
2,023 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
45.6±4 17% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2Lowest 12% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Weare 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% |
22.4%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Weare and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Thetford 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% |
41.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Thetford 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. |
$118,271±$17k 46% above U.S. |
$88,045±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$396,300±$26k 19% above U.S. |
$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,541±$214 9% above U.S. |
$1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Weare 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. |
$6,272Lowest 101% above U.S. |
$6,948 123% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.2%±24.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 35% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Newfields 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 | #40 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Thetford School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | None in town | John Stark Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— | — |
| 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.