Compare towns
Newfields vs Lee vs Salem 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).
Lee has the most kids (21.9% under 18).
Salem has the most renters (24.4% rent).
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 | Lee | Salem | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,023 |
4,576 |
30,964Highest |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
42.9±1.9Lowest about the NH average |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Lyme and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee 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% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.1% NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Lee 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 |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$473,300±$16kLowest 18% 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±$323Highest 26% above NH |
— | $1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
| Newfields and Salem 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 |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$6,992Lowest 5% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Salem 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% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 9% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | — | #3 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Newfields School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Salem School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Salem High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.