Compare towns

Madbury vs Hillsborough vs Lyme

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Madbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).

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.

MeasureMadburyHillsboroughLyme
People
Population
2,203
5,980Highest
1,710Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.3%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-1.2%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+1.7%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
37.7±2.1Lowest
13% below NH
40.9±4.6
6% below NH
48.6±7.8Highest
12% above NH
Lyme and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
29%±5.9Highest
NH: 18.2%
17.4%±4.6Lowest
NH: 18.2%
19.5%±3.4
NH: 18.2%
Age 65+
14.3%±2.6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
16.4%±3.9
NH: 20.1%
26.5%±2.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
52.6%
NH: 40.6%
23.9%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
70.1%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±1.8Highest
NH: 6%
2.6%±1.6Lowest
NH: 6%
3.3%±1.9
NH: 6%
Madbury and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$148,365±$30kHighest
50% above NH
$84,495±$12kLowest
15% below NH
$133,906±$15k
35% above NH
Madbury and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$476,900±$31k
18% above NH
$272,300±$16kLowest
32% below NH
$645,000±$64kHighest
60% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,574±$759Highest
6% above NH
$1,198±$390Lowest
20% below NH
$1,418±$130
5% below NH
Madbury and Lyme 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
$5,815Lowest
13% below NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
16.7%±15.2Lowest
NH: 48.2%
61.7%±23.1Highest
NH: 48.2%
52.8%±29.8
NH: 48.2%
Hillsborough and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.9%
NH: 7.2%
6%Highest
NH: 7.2%
4.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
NH: 72.8%
92.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
80.5%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
5 yrs newer than NH
1974Lowest
5 yrs older than NH
1977
2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
5% below NH
41 minHighest
54% above NH
21 minLowest
22% below NH
Work from home
14%±3.6Lowest
NH: 16.8%
14%±5.2Lowest
NH: 16.8%
27.2%±5.4Highest
NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #97 of 120 in NH —
School district Oyster River Coop School District Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District Lyme School District
High school in town None in town Hillsboro-Deering High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
9.5
—
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.