Compare towns
Barnstead vs Hampton Falls vs Lyme
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Barnstead | Hampton Falls | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Highest |
2,328 |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
$1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
| Hampton Falls and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Hampton Falls 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Hampton Falls School District | Lyme 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.