What stands out worked out from the figures below

Stoddard has the most people working from home (9.5%).

Lyman has the shortest commute (24 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Stoddard	Lyman
People
Population	1,072Highest	464Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.5%Highest NH: +4.6%	+9.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	53±4Lowest 22% above NH	60.8±6.5Highest 40% above NH
	Lyman and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2%	12.3%±6.7Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Stoddard and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	24.4%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1%	38.6%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.1%Highest NH: 40.6%	27.8%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6%	1.5%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%
	Stoddard and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,904±$11kHighest 4% below NH	$71,042±$17kLowest 28% below NH
	Stoddard and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$330,300±$20kHighest 18% below NH	$311,100±$66kLowest 23% below NH
	Stoddard and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$895±$751Lowest 40% below NH	$1,147±$81Highest 23% below NH
	Lyman and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,316Highest 35% below NH	$3,981Lowest 40% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.6%±100Lowest NH: 48.2%	58.3%±100Highest NH: 48.2%
	Lyman and Stoddard are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%	14.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.3%Highest NH: 72.8%	89.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 25% above NH	24 minLowest 10% below NH
Work from home	9.5%±4Highest NH: 16.8%	3.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Stoddard and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Stoddard School District	—
High school in town	None in town	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.