Compare towns
Rumney vs Lyme vs Orford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rumney has the youngest population (median age 44.5).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Rumney | Lyme | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,458 |
1,710Highest |
1,295Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.2% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
0%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.5±2.3Lowest about the NH average |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
48.9±3.3Highest 13% above NH |
| Orford and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.1%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±2.3 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Orford and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,444±$21kLowest 20% below NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$92,571±$24k 7% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $309,800±$37k 23% below NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$271,900±$25kLowest 32% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,064±$100Lowest 29% below NH |
$1,418±$130Highest 5% below NH |
$1,263±$686 15% 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 | $4,716Lowest 29% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,836 12% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.1%±21.3 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.8% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.4%±7 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Rumney School District | Lyme School District | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Rivendell Academy |
| 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.


