Compare towns
Hampton vs Lyme vs Meredith vs Hampton Beach
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyme has the highest household income ($134k).
Meredith has the most affordable homes ($480k median).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Hampton | Lyme | Meredith | Hampton Beach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,101Highest |
1,710Lowest |
6,758 |
2,605 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.2±1.7 18% above NH |
48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
| Hampton Beach and Meredith 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% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest 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% |
26.5%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Hampton Beach 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% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hampton and Lyme 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 |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $545,300±$63k 35% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$480,100±$48kLowest 19% above NH |
$508,900±$76k 26% 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 |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,375±$130 8% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,872 3% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$6,115 8% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±13.1 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2Highest 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 | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 20.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | — | #62 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Lyme School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.