Compare towns
Newington vs Bethlehem 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
Newington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($288k median).
Lyme has the most kids (19.5% 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 | Newington | Bethlehem | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 939Lowest |
2,537Highest |
1,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.7±10.1 12% above NH |
50.6±8.5Highest 17% above NH |
48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH |
| Bethlehem and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28%±11 NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bethlehem and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4% NH: 40.6% |
45.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Newington and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $145,833±$46kHighest 47% above NH |
$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
| Newington and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
| Newington and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,081 9% below NH |
$5,418Lowest 19% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Newington and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 13% below NH |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem 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 | — | #34 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Newington School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Profile Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9 |
— |
| 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.