Compare towns
Hampton Beach vs Lyme vs North Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
North Hampton has the most homeowners (91.3%).
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 | Hampton Beach | Lyme | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,605 |
1,710Lowest |
4,543Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH |
50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Lyme and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
| North Hampton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $508,900±$76kLowest 26% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
| North Hampton and Lyme 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±$130 5% below NH |
$1,805±$106Highest 21% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,115Lowest 8% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,529 28% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest 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 | 8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 5% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.9%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9Lowest 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 | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Lyme School District | North Hampton 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 |
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.