Compare towns
Newfields vs Swanzey vs Lyme vs Stratham
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).
Swanzey has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
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 | Swanzey | Lyme | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,023 |
7,398 |
1,710Lowest |
7,754Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
50±3.1Highest 15% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
| Swanzey and Lyme 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% |
18%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham 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% |
24.2%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Swanzey 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% |
30.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Stratham 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 |
$81,595±$11kLowest 18% below NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
$259,200±$15kLowest 36% below NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
| Stratham and Newfields 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 |
$1,508±$303 about the NH average |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Stratham 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 |
$5,558Lowest 17% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Swanzey and Stratham 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% |
7.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | — | #102 of 120 in NH | — | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfields School District | Monadnock Regional School District | Lyme School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Monadnock Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.