Compare towns
Hampton Falls vs Lyme vs Newfields vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k 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 | Newfields | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,328 |
1,710Lowest |
2,023 |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $166,157±$14k 106% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kLowest 51% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,852±$475 31% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
| Newfields 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 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 22% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Newfields 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 | — | — | — | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampton Falls School District | Lyme School District | Newfields School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 13.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.