Compare towns
Newington vs Orford vs Newfields 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%).
Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Newington | Orford | Newfields | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 939Lowest |
1,295 |
2,023Highest |
1,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
0%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.7±10.1 12% above NH |
48.9±3.3Highest 13% above NH |
44.1±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
| Orford and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest 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% |
44%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5%±2.1 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $145,833±$46k 47% above NH |
$92,571±$24kLowest 7% below NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
| Newfields and Newington 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 |
$271,900±$25kLowest 32% below NH |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$1,263±$686Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
| Newington and Newfields 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 |
$5,836Lowest 12% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 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% NH: 7.2% |
5.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% NH: 72.8% |
75.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Newington School District | Rivendell Interstate School District | Newfields School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Rivendell Academy | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5 |
— | — |
| 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.