Compare towns
Hampstead vs Hampton vs 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
Hampstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
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 | Hampstead | Hampton | Hampton | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
10,101 |
16,426Highest |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Lowest 5% above NH |
51.2±1.7 18% above NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.9%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% NH: 40.6% |
44.2% NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Hampstead and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$97,163±$4k about the NH average |
$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
| Lyme and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45kLowest 29% above NH |
$545,300±$63k 35% above NH |
$550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
| Lyme and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,654±$93Highest 11% above NH |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
| Hampton and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 30% above NH |
$6,872 3% above NH |
$6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1 NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.5% NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Hampton 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hampstead School District | — | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Winnacunnet High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.1 |
— |
| 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.