Compare towns
Brookline vs Hampton Falls vs Hampton 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
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
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 | Brookline | Hampton Falls | Hampton | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,736 |
2,328 |
16,426Highest |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
| Hampton and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.7% NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Brookline 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 | $171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$166,157±$14k 68% above NH |
$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
| Brookline and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $544,400±$38kLowest 35% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$550,200±$39k 37% 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 | $2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
| Brookline and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Brookline 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | — | #31 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Brookline School District | Hampton Falls School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.