Compare towns
Lyme vs Windham vs Pembroke
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%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Pembroke has the most affordable homes ($372k 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 | Windham | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
16,038Highest |
7,438 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
| Lyme and Pembroke 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Pembroke 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% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Windham and Pembroke 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 |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$371,500±$20kLowest 8% below 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±$130 5% below NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,589Lowest 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Windham 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 | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | Windham School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| 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.