Compare towns
Ashland vs Lyme vs South Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 | Ashland | Lyme | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183Highest |
1,710 |
984Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
| Lyme and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lyme and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
| 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 | $227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
| South Hampton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
| South Hampton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,109 37% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| School district | Ashland School District | Lyme School District | South Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.