Compare towns
Hampton Falls vs Lyme vs Durham vs Seabrook Beach
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 the highest household income ($166k).
Lyme has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Seabrook Beach has the most people working from home (39.5%).
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 | Lyme | Durham | Seabrook Beach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,328 |
1,710 |
15,080Highest |
1,001Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+8.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
62±3.8Highest 43% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
5.2%±3.1Lowest 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% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
42.1%±7.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5% NH: 40.6% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±3.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$93,571±$43kLowest 6% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $772,600±$76k 92% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$504,300±$41kLowest 25% above NH |
$920,900±$75kHighest 129% above NH |
| Seabrook Beach 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±$475Highest 24% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,725±$575 16% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Seabrook Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+ at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+ at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+ at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
90.5%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Seabrook Beach and Durham 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
39.5%±20Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Seabrook Beach and Lyme 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 | Lyme School District | Oyster River Coop School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.