Compare towns
Hampton Falls vs Hampton vs Hanover 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
Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Hampton has the most affordable homes ($550k median).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Hampton | Hanover | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,328 |
16,426Highest |
11,685 |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
| Hampton 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% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest 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% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton and Lyme 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% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $166,157±$14k 68% above NH |
$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $772,600±$76k 92% above NH |
$550,200±$39kLowest 37% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,852±$475 24% above NH |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls 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 |
$6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Hampton 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% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.8% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hampton Falls School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Lowest |
10.7Highest |
— |
| 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.