Compare towns
Durham vs South 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
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | South Hampton | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
984Lowest |
1,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Lyme and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
| South Hampton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41kLowest 25% above NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
| South Hampton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
| South Hampton and Durham 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 |
$9,109Lowest 37% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | South Hampton School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.