Compare towns
Hampton Falls vs Hanover vs Lyme vs Seabrook
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%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Lyme has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
Seabrook has the most affordable homes ($444k median).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% 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 | Hanover | Lyme | Seabrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,328 |
8,479Highest |
1,710Lowest |
8,427 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-3.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
54±1.9Highest 25% above NH |
| Seabrook 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% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.8%±3.1 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% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
31.5%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Seabrook 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% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
27.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$84,349±$15kLowest 15% below NH |
| Hampton Falls and Hanover 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 |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$443,500±$40kLowest 10% 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 |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,542±$174 3% above 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,785Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±10 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover 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% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
68.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.5%±3.7Lowest 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | — | #114 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton Falls School District | — | Lyme School District | Seabrook School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.