Compare towns
Ossipee vs Lyme vs Effingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ossipee has the oldest population (median age 50).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).
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 | Ossipee | Lyme | Effingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,521Highest |
1,710Lowest |
1,912 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50±4.6Highest 15% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
46.9±12.4Lowest 8% above NH |
| Ossipee and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 26.3%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.8% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lyme and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $90,521±$22k 9% below NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$76,607±$14kLowest 23% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $325,500±$23k 19% below NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$322,700±$30kLowest 20% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,601±$245Highest 7% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,090±$121Lowest 27% below NH |
| Ossipee and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,401Lowest 34% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,163 23% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
13.6%±40.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Ossipee and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
32 min 18% above NH |
| Work from home | 5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.1%±4.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #100 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Lyme School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.