Compare towns
Hampton Falls vs Lyme vs Meredith
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Meredith has the most affordable homes ($480k median).
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 | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,328 |
1,710Lowest |
6,758Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
| Meredith 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% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest 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%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith 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% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hampton Falls and Lyme 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 |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$480,100±$48kLowest 19% 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 |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
| Hampton Falls and Lyme 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 |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Meredith 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% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21.8%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Meredith 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 | — | — | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton Falls School District | Lyme School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.