Compare towns

Hampton vs Hampton vs Lyme vs Kingston

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
Lyme has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
Kingston has the most affordable homes ($493k median).

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.

MeasureHamptonHamptonLymeKingston
People
Population
10,101
16,426Highest
1,710Lowest
6,275
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-0.6%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+5.1%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+1.7%
NH: +4.6%
+2.9%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
51.2±1.7
18% above NH
55.8±2.1Highest
29% above NH
48.6±7.8Lowest
12% above NH
55.5±5.7
28% above NH
Hampton and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.6%±3.3
NH: 18.2%
11.6%±2.3Lowest
NH: 18.2%
19.5%±3.4Highest
NH: 18.2%
13.5%±3.9
NH: 18.2%
Lyme and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
26.9%±3.1
NH: 20.1%
30.9%±2.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
26.5%±2.8
NH: 20.1%
24.7%±6Lowest
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+
44.2%
NH: 40.6%
42.8%
NH: 40.6%
70.1%Highest
NH: 40.6%
35.1%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.4%±1.7
NH: 6%
3.1%±1.1Lowest
NH: 6%
3.3%±1.9
NH: 6%
3.6%±2.1Highest
NH: 6%
Kingston and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$97,163±$4k
about the NH average
$95,233±$9kLowest
4% below NH
$133,906±$15kHighest
35% above NH
$105,330±$12k
6% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$545,300±$63k
35% above NH
$550,200±$39k
37% above NH
$645,000±$64kHighest
60% above NH
$492,900±$58kLowest
22% 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
$1,654±$93Highest
11% above NH
$1,628±$94
9% above NH
$1,418±$130
5% below NH
$1,393±$156Lowest
7% 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
$6,872
3% above NH
$6,813Lowest
about the NH average
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$7,906
19% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.9%±13.1
NH: 48.2%
56.8%±10.4Highest
NH: 48.2%
52.8%±29.8
NH: 48.2%
46.9%±46.4Lowest
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
4%
NH: 7.2%
5.6%Highest
NH: 7.2%
4.4%
NH: 7.2%
2.1%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.5%
NH: 72.8%
73.8%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
80.5%Highest
NH: 72.8%
74.4%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
same as NH
1978
1 yr older than NH
1977Lowest
2 yrs older than NH
1982Highest
3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
3% below NH
26 min
3% below NH
21 minLowest
22% below NH
34 minHighest
27% above NH
Work from home
20.5%±3.8
NH: 16.8%
21.7%±3.3
NH: 16.8%
27.2%±5.4Highest
NH: 16.8%
15.7%±4.3Lowest
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 #31 of 120 in NH #31 of 120 in NH — #78 of 120 in NH
School district — Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District Lyme School District Sanborn Regional School District
High school in town — Winnacunnet High School None in town Sanborn Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.1Lowest
—
12.9Highest
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.