Compare towns
Hampton Falls vs Lyme vs Madbury vs Canterbury
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 most expensive homes ($773k median).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Canterbury has the most homeowners (93.7%).
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 | Madbury | Canterbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,328 |
1,710Lowest |
2,203 |
2,353Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
48.6±3.8 12% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Lyme 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% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.9%±3.3 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% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
49.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
6.8%±3Highest NH: 6% |
| Canterbury and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$129,333±$37kLowest 31% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$443,700±$21kLowest 10% 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±$475 24% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
| Canterbury 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 |
$7,421Lowest 11% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury 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% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
5.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 21% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.6%±7.4 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 | ||||
| School district | Hampton Falls School District | Lyme School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Shaker Regional School District |
| High school in town | None 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.