Compare towns
Eliot vs Hampton Beach vs Lyme
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has the most affordable homes ($499k median).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Lyme has the highest household income ($134k).
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 | Eliot | Hampton Beach | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146Highest |
2,605 |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lyme and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$82,557±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62kLowest 50% above U.S. |
$508,900±$76k 53% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,375±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
| Eliot and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$6,115 96% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Hampton Beach 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | — | — |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — | 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 |
U.S. 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.