Compare towns
Lyme vs Windham vs Auburn
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Windham has the most kids (27.4% under 18).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
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 | Windham | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
16,038Highest |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| Lyme and Auburn 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15kLowest 35% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$600,300±$29kLowest 49% above NH |
| Windham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,893±$822 27% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,092Lowest 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Windham 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% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Auburn 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | Windham School District | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.