Compare towns
Weare vs Lyme vs Dunbarton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Weare has the most affordable homes ($396k median).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
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 | Weare | Lyme | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,170Highest |
1,710Lowest |
3,097 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4Lowest 5% above NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
48±3.7 11% above NH |
| Lyme and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
| Weare and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $118,271±$17kLowest 19% above NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$124,348±$21k 26% above NH |
| Lyme and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$484,100±$33k 20% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214Highest 3% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
| Weare and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,272Lowest 6% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Weare and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
34 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Weare 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 | #84 of 120 in NH | — | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Lyme School District | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | — |
| 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.