Compare towns
Lyme vs Wolfeboro vs Hampton Falls vs Newfields
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).
Wolfeboro has the most affordable homes ($547k median).
Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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 | Wolfeboro | Hampton Falls | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
6,571Highest |
2,328 |
2,023 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
44.1±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
| Wolfeboro and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Hampton Falls 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% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Hampton Falls 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 |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
$166,157±$14k 68% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$546,500±$60kLowest 36% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
| Newfields and Hampton Falls 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 |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Newfields 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% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | — | #46 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Hampton Falls School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— | — |
| 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.