Compare towns
Newfields vs Bedford vs Lyme
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Newfields | Bedford | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,023 |
23,746Highest |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.1±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Lyme and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.1% NH: 40.6% |
63%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$167,418±$12k 69% above NH |
$133,906±$15kLowest 35% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$612,100±$26kLowest 52% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
| Newfields and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
| Bedford and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,803Lowest 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Bedford and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1990 11 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 4% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.5%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Bedford 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 | — | #7 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Newfields School District | Bedford School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bedford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.