Compare towns
Unity vs Lyme vs Jefferson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k median).
Lyme has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.7%).
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 | Unity | Lyme | Jefferson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,375 |
1,710Highest |
1,013Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58±4.5Highest 34% above NH |
48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH |
58±3.5Highest 34% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 12%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.5%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 34.9%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±9.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Unity and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Lyme and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,500±$16k 12% below NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$67,188±$13kLowest 32% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $276,100±$29kLowest 31% below NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$296,700±$92k 26% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$804Highest 9% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$867±$156Lowest 42% below NH |
| Unity and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,394 19% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,196Lowest 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
35 min 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Unity School District | Lyme School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.