Compare towns
Rye vs Dover 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
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Rye | Dover | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611 |
33,364Highest |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
| Rye and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.5% NH: 40.6% |
52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
| Rye and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
| Rye and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Lyme 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Rye School District | Dover School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7 |
— |
| 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.