Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Lyme vs North Hampton
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).
Lyme has the youngest population (median age 48.6).
North Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Lyme | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,537 |
1,710Lowest |
4,543Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5Highest 17% above NH |
48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH |
50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
| Bethlehem and North Hampton 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% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and North Hampton 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% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9Lowest 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% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Lyme and North Hampton 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 |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
| North Hampton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
| North Hampton 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 |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,805±$106Highest 21% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,418Lowest 19% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,529 28% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest 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% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
25 minHighest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9Lowest 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 | — | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Lyme School District | North Hampton 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.