Compare towns
Newington vs Durham vs Dover 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 the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Dover | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 939Lowest |
15,080 |
33,364Highest |
1,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
| Newington and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Newington and Lyme 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% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $145,833±$46kHighest 47% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% 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 |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
| Newington and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.9%±44 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Newington 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 13% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Durham 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Newington School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Dover School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Lowest |
12.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 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.