Compare towns
Amesbury vs Lyme vs Seabrook vs South Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amesbury has the youngest population (median age 43.7).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Seabrook has the most affordable homes ($444k median).
South Hampton has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
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 | Amesbury | Lyme | Seabrook | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,403Highest |
1,710 |
8,427 |
984Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
54±1.9Highest 39% above U.S. |
45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
| Seabrook and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Hampton and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.5%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Seabrook and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Amesbury and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $103,554±$12k 28% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$84,349±$15kLowest 4% above U.S. |
$152,500±$44kHighest 89% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,300±$32k 56% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$443,500±$40kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$661,100±$45kHighest 99% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,542±$174 9% above U.S. |
$1,889±$489Highest 34% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,360 136% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,785Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$9,109 192% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±10 U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #151 of 282 in MA | — | #114 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Amesbury | Lyme School District | Seabrook School District | South Hampton School District |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.