Compare towns
Nottingham vs Lyme vs Eliot vs Northwood
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nottingham has the most kids (23.9% under 18).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Northwood has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
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 | Nottingham | Lyme | Eliot | Northwood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,357 |
1,710Lowest |
7,146Highest |
4,688 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
42.4±7.8 9% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Nottingham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Nottingham and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $122,201±$20k 51% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$129,375±$23k 60% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,500±$26k 38% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$363,000±$13kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,068±$1kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$1,201±$372Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Nottingham and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,319 135% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$5,806 86% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 92.1%±44.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.7%±29.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Nottingham and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 38% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Nottingham 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 | #15 of 120 in NH | — | #19 of 133 in ME | #24 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Nottingham School District | Lyme School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.