Compare towns
Middleton vs Lyme vs Webster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
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).
Webster has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Middleton | Lyme | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,595Lowest |
1,710 |
2,227Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.5±5.7Lowest about the NH average |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
44.7±7.6 3% above NH |
| Lyme and Webster 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%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Webster and Lyme 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% |
19.4%±1.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$107,171±$14k 8% above NH |
| Lyme and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,300±$27kLowest 22% below NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$338,500±$30k 16% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$293Highest about the NH average |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,396±$622Lowest 6% 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 |
$6,021 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.3%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
53.6%±71 NH: 48.2% |
| Middleton and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 45% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
31 min 14% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.1%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.1%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Middleton School District | Lyme School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.