Compare towns
Sullivan vs Lyme vs Gilsum vs Surry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Gilsum has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
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 | Sullivan | Lyme | Gilsum | Surry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 687Lowest |
1,710Highest |
716 |
1,052 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-7.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.6±6.5 8% above NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
44.8±8.1 3% above NH |
44.7±5.1Lowest 3% above NH |
| Lyme and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±5 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
12%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Surry and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±7 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
18.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
31.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.1%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Surry and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$20k 8% above NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$80,417±$7kLowest 19% below NH |
$110,125±$25k 11% above NH |
| Lyme and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$241,500±$32k 40% below NH |
$331,400±$23k 18% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$275Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,575±$894 6% above NH |
$1,955±$374Highest 31% above NH |
| Surry and Gilsum are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,579 16% below NH |
$6,384 4% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±84.5 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
76.5%±55.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Gilsum and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
13.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
91.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±8.7 NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | — | Lyme School District | Monadnock Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.