Compare towns
Wilmot vs Lyme vs Portsmouth vs Francestown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilmot has the oldest population (median age 53).
Lyme has the highest household income ($134k).
Portsmouth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Francestown has the most homeowners (95.3%).
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 | Wilmot | Lyme | Portsmouth | Francestown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,487 |
1,710 |
22,545Highest |
1,398Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53±2.4Highest 22% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
51.2±4.5 18% above NH |
| Wilmot and Francestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Francestown and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
21.7%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Wilmot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±3.4 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Portsmouth and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,759±$15k 19% above NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$104,063±$16kLowest 5% above NH |
| Lyme and Wilmot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $399,600±$43kLowest about the NH average |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$408,200±$34k about the NH average |
| Portsmouth and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$289Lowest 25% below NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,358±$256 9% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,651Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$8,014 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.1%±41.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.7%±77Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Francestown and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.4% NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 22% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
42 minHighest 57% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.9%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Francestown and Lyme 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 | — | — | #11 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Lyme School District | Portsmouth School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4 |
— |
| 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.