Compare towns
Lyme vs Wolfeboro vs Orford
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 kids (19.5% under 18).
Wolfeboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Wolfeboro | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710 |
6,571Highest |
1,295Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
0%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
48.9±3.3 13% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Wolfeboro 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% |
25.5%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
44%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Orford and Lyme 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 |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
$92,571±$24kLowest 7% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
$271,900±$25kLowest 32% below NH |
| Lyme and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Highest 5% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,263±$686 15% below NH |
| Lyme and Orford 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 |
$5,836 12% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
37.8%±10.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Orford 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% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
75.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Wolfeboro 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 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.