Compare towns
Bethlehem 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
Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($288k median).
Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Lyme has the most kids (19.5% 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 | Bethlehem | Hampton Falls | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537Highest |
2,328 |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5Highest 17% above NH |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH |
| Bethlehem and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bethlehem and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Hampton Falls and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,300±$22kLowest 28% 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 | $1,174±$81Lowest 21% 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 | $5,418Lowest 19% 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 | 41.3%±18.3 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem 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 | #34 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Hampton Falls School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9 |
— | — |
| 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.