Compare towns
Orford vs Piermont 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
Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Piermont has the most kids (23.6% under 18).
Lyme has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.7%).
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 | Orford | Piermont | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,295 |
868Lowest |
1,710Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% NH: +4.6% |
-2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.9±3.3 13% above NH |
49.4±5.7Highest 14% above NH |
48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH |
| Piermont and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.6%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Piermont and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.5%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.6%±1.1 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Piermont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.4% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
0%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Orford and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,571±$24k 7% below NH |
$80,000±$17kLowest 19% below NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,900±$25kLowest 32% below NH |
$341,600±$22k 15% below NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,263±$686 15% below NH |
$1,199±$245Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,418±$130Highest 5% below NH |
| Lyme and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,836Lowest 12% below NH |
$6,142 8% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63%±23.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Piermont and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.5% NH: 72.8% |
75%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.7%±9 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Piermont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Piermont School District | Lyme School District |
| High school 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 |
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.