What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middleton has the most affordable homes ($312k median).

Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Middleton	Lyme
People
Population	1,595Lowest	1,710Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2%Highest NH: +4.6%	+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	43.5±5.7Lowest about the NH average	48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH
	Lyme and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.9%±4.2Lowest NH: 18.2%	19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2%
	Lyme and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.9%±2Lowest NH: 20.1%	26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.4%Lowest NH: 40.6%	70.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.9Lowest NH: 6%	3.3%±1.9Highest NH: 6%
	Lyme and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,696±$8kLowest about the NH average	$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$312,300±$27kLowest 22% below NH	$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,500±$293Highest about the NH average	$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH
	Middleton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,504Lowest 17% below NH	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	83.3%±100Highest NH: 48.2%	52.8%±29.8Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Middleton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Highest NH: 7.2%	4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.5%Highest NH: 72.8%	80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 45% above NH	21 minLowest 22% below NH
Work from home	14.1%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8%	27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
School district	Middleton School District	Lyme School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.