The Town FilesLyme, New Hampshire
Town in Grafton County · population 1,745 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $645,000
- Household income
- $133,906
- Jan low / Jul high
- 6° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 69 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 2
- Median age
- 48.6
Lyme is a town of 1,745 people in Grafton County, New Hampshire. The median home is worth $645,000, above the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). It ranks better for a vacation home than 98% of New Hampshire towns, better transit than 97% of New Hampshire towns, better for retirees than 96% of New Hampshire towns.
How Lyme ranks
Percentile among New Hampshire towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Hampshire towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Lyme is worth $645,000, above the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). Homes cost about 4.8 times the median household income of $133,906, which is more affordable than 14% of New Hampshire towns. Median rent is $1,418 a month. 80.5% of households own their home.
| Housing | Lyme | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $645,000 | $357,650 |
| Median rent | $1,418 | $1,285 |
| Median household income | $133,906 | $94,107 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.8× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 80.5% | 82.1% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 11.1% | — |
Who lives in Lyme
| People | Lyme | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48.6 | 46.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 26.5% | 22.3% |
| Under 18 | 19.5% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 70.1% | 36.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.4% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 9.4% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 5.4% | — |
| Work from home | 27.2% | 14.2% |
| Average commute | 20.9 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 96.8% | 92.5% |
Weather in Lyme
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 6.4°F. About 39.9 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 69.3 inches of snow (typical New Hampshire town: 67.7 in). Expect about 9 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 178 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lyme since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New Hampshire town. The strongest, an EF1, struck on July 16, 2024 about 2.8 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 16, 2024.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 11 times; the largest was 1.25 inches on August 4, 2023.
Severe weather in Grafton County since 1996
Grafton County has been included in 40 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4812: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| July 10, 2024 | Winter Storm | DR-4799: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
| April 19, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4771: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| February 27, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4761: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| September 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4740: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Grafton County
Grafton County had 54,323 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $73,105 a year. Unemployment was 1.9% in 2023; in Lyme itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Public schools in Lyme
1 public school with 195 students, about 8.5 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lyme Elementary School | K-8 | 195 | 8.5 |
Towns near Lyme
- Orford, NH5.5 mi · 1,237 people · home $271,900
- Thetford, VT7.9 mi · 2,775 people · home $329,500
- Hanover, NH8.0 mi · 11,870 people · home $824,900
- Fairlee, VT8.2 mi · 988 people · home $274,200
- Wentworth, NH9.0 mi · 845 people · home $304,500
- Canaan, NH9.3 mi · 3,794 people · home $254,000
- West Fairlee, VT9.8 mi · 621 people · home $237,200
- Piermont, NH11.1 mi · 769 people · home $341,600
Lyme questions
Is Lyme, New Hampshire a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Lyme scores better for retirees than 96% of New Hampshire towns and quieter than 96%. 26.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 48.6).
How much does a house cost in Lyme?
The median owner-occupied home in Lyme is valued at $645,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $133,906, so homes cost about 4.8 times income. Median rent is $1,418 a month.
What is the weather like in Lyme?
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 6.4°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 39.9 inches of precipitation a year and 69.3 inches of snow.
Does Lyme get tornadoes?
2 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Lyme since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF1 on July 16, 2024. The typical New Hampshire town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)