Compare towns

Newfields vs Keene vs Norwich vs Lyme

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
Lyme has the oldest population (median age 48.6).

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.

MeasureNewfieldsKeeneNorwichLyme
People
Population
2,023
22,939Highest
3,640
1,710Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.1±1.8
13% above U.S.
37.6±2.3Lowest
3% below U.S.
40.8±3.2
5% above U.S.
48.6±7.8Highest
25% above U.S.
Lyme and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.9%±1.6
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
24%±5.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.5%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
Norwich 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
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
16%±3.4
U.S.: 17.2%
26.5%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
68.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
44.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
81%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
70.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7.5%±7.2
U.S.: 6.4%
13.8%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.8%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Keene and Newfields 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
145% above U.S.
$78,445±$8kLowest
about the U.S. average
$140,313±$12k
74% above U.S.
$133,906±$15k
66% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$646,400±$34kHighest
94% above U.S.
$252,500±$12kLowest
24% below U.S.
$637,500±$76k
92% above U.S.
$645,000±$64k
94% above U.S.
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±$323Highest
33% above U.S.
$1,342±$68Lowest
5% below U.S.
$1,460±$322
3% above U.S.
$1,418±$130
about the U.S. average
Newfields and Norwich 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 221% above U.S.
$6,812Lowest
118% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.3%±40.8
U.S.: 51.1%
44.5%±6.1
U.S.: 51.1%
30.7%±19.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
52.8%±29.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Lyme and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
2.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
71.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1977
3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minHighest
about the U.S. average
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
19 min
28% below U.S.
21 min
21% below U.S.
Work from home
25.5%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
15.6%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21%±5.3
U.S.: 15.1%
27.2%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Lyme and Newfields 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 — #81 of 120 in NH #1 of 70 in VT —
School district Newfields School District Keene School District Norwich School District Lyme School District
High school in town None in town Keene High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.3
— —
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.