Compare towns
Hampton Falls vs Durham vs Lyme vs Newbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Newbury has the most affordable homes ($463k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 Falls | Durham | Lyme | Newbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,328 |
15,080Highest |
1,710Lowest |
2,027 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
53.3±3.6Highest 23% above NH |
| Newbury and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
23.6%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
53%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$116,477±$18kLowest 18% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$463,400±$36kLowest 15% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
— |
| Hampton Falls and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,695Lowest 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
50%±24.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
87.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.1%±7.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Hampton Falls 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Hampton Falls School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Lyme School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.