Compare towns
Rye vs Lyme vs New London
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
New London has the most affordable homes ($554k 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 | Rye | Lyme | New London |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,611Highest |
1,710Lowest |
4,433 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH |
52.8±6.7 22% above NH |
| Rye and New London 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% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
12%±3Lowest 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%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
37.5%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| New London and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
65.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
20.8%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$107,773±$10kLowest 9% 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 |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$554,100±$64kLowest 38% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,594±$551 7% above NH |
| Rye and New London are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,519 13% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,325Lowest 5% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.3%±16.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
71.8%±22.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| New London and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
0.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.5% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 8% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±7.6Lowest 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 | — | #17 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rye School District | Lyme School District | Kearsarge Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.