Compare towns
Dorchester vs Hampton Beach 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
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Hampton Beach has the most renters (37.1% rent).
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 | Dorchester | Hampton Beach | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 410Lowest |
2,605Highest |
1,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±10.5 29% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH |
| Hampton Beach and Dorchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8% NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | — | $82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
$508,900±$76k 26% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
| Lyme and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,375±$130Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,418±$130Highest 5% below NH |
| Lyme and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
$6,115 8% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Lyme School District |
| High school 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.