What stands out worked out from the figures below

Monroe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).

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.

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

Measure	Monroe	Lyme
People
Population	786Lowest	1,710Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	51±10.4Highest 18% above NH	48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH
	Monroe and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.9%±7.6Highest NH: 18.2%	19.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Monroe and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	30.3%±8.9Highest NH: 20.1%	26.5%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Monroe and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	25.4%Lowest NH: 40.6%	70.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 6%	3.3%±1.9Highest NH: 6%
	Lyme and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,150±$7kLowest 11% below NH	$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$312,700±$58kLowest 22% below NH	$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,104±$218Lowest 26% below NH	$1,418±$130Highest 5% below NH
	Lyme and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,661Lowest 60% below NH	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48%±39Lowest NH: 48.2%	52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2%
	Lyme and Monroe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.2%Highest NH: 7.2%	4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.6%Highest NH: 72.8%	80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977 2 yrs older than NH	1977 2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minHighest about the NH average	21 minLowest 22% below NH
Work from home	3.2%±2.2Lowest NH: 16.8%	27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
School district	Monroe 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.