What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).

Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lyme	Webster
People
Population	1,710Lowest	2,227Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+2.2%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH	44.7±7.6Lowest 3% above NH
	Lyme and Webster 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%	22.6%±8Highest NH: 18.2%
	Webster 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 NH: 20.1%	19.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	70.1%Highest NH: 40.6%	30.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.9Highest NH: 6%	3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6%
	Lyme and Webster 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	$107,171±$14kLowest 8% above NH
	Lyme and Webster 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	$338,500±$30kLowest 16% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,418±$130Highest 5% below NH	$1,396±$622Lowest 6% below NH
	Lyme and Webster 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	$6,021Lowest 10% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.8%±29.8Lowest NH: 48.2%	53.6%±71Highest NH: 48.2%
	Webster and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%	9.6%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%	96%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH	1979Highest same as NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 22% below NH	31 minHighest 14% above NH
Work from home	27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8%	17.1%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
School district	Lyme School District	Merrimack Valley School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.