Compare towns
Center Harbor 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
Center Harbor has the most affordable homes ($464k median).
Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
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 | Center Harbor | Hampton Falls | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 955Lowest |
2,328Highest |
1,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH |
| Center Harbor and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.9%±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+ | 39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Center Harbor and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±1.1Lowest 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 | $104,313±$16kLowest 5% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$74kLowest 15% above 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 | — | $1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 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 | $4,667Lowest 30% 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 | 14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 8.9%±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 | |||
| School district | — | Hampton Falls School District | Lyme School District |
| High school 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.