Compare towns
Dover vs Hampton Falls vs Lyme vs Newfields
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Dover | Hampton Falls | Lyme | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
2,328 |
1,710Lowest |
2,023 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
| Hampton Falls and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 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+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$166,157±$14k 68% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
| Newfields and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249Lowest 24% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Newfields 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | — | — | — |
| School district | Dover School District | Hampton Falls School District | Lyme School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — | — |
| 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.