Compare towns
Nelson vs Lyme vs Stoddard
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Stoddard has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).
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 | Nelson | Lyme | Stoddard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
1,710Highest |
1,072 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+11.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
53±4Highest 22% above NH |
| Stoddard and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
17.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Stoddard and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,792±$23k about the NH average |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$94,904±$11kLowest 4% below NH |
| Lyme and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$330,300±$20kLowest 18% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243 19% below NH |
$1,418±$130Highest 5% below NH |
$895±$751Lowest 40% below NH |
| Lyme and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,575 16% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,316Lowest 35% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.6%±100 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Nelson School District | Lyme School District | Stoddard 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.