Compare towns
South Eliot vs Dover vs Lyme
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Eliot has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
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 | South Eliot | Dover | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,203 |
33,364Highest |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| South Eliot and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $99,299±$9k 23% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $475,600±$52k 43% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S. |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,442Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Eliot and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #64 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Dover School District | Lyme School District |
| High school 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 |
U.S. 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.