Compare towns
Milford vs Newmarket vs Lyme vs Hollis
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Newmarket has the most renters (47.1% rent).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Hollis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
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 | Milford | Newmarket | Lyme | Hollis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337Highest |
9,463 |
1,710Lowest |
8,603 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
49.4±5Highest 14% above NH |
| Hollis and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
21%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
49.7% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Newmarket and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average |
$100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$168,883±$22kHighest 71% above NH |
| Hollis and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20kLowest about the NH average |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$675,900±$48kHighest 68% above NH |
| Hollis and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,671±$69Highest 12% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,598±$302 7% above NH |
| Newmarket and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522Lowest 13% above NH |
$8,734 31% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.3%±19.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.9% NH: 7.2% |
4.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% NH: 72.8% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
91.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
29%±6.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hollis and Lyme 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 | #55 of 120 in NH | #39 of 120 in NH | — | #8 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Newmarket School District | Lyme School District | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | None in town | Hollis-Brookline High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
9.9Lowest |
— | 11.8Highest |
| 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.