Compare towns
Hampton Falls vs South Hampton vs Lyme vs Kensington
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).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Kensington has the most homeowners (92.9%).
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 | South Hampton | Lyme | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,328Highest |
984Lowest |
1,710 |
2,009 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
43.3±5.9Lowest about the NH average |
| 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% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Lyme 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% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 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% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Hampton Falls and Kensington 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 |
$152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
$133,906±$15kLowest 35% above NH |
$165,083±$18k 67% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Kensington 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 |
$661,100±$45k 64% above NH |
$645,000±$64kLowest 60% above NH |
$657,700±$47k 63% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and South Hampton 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 |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,813±$627 22% above NH |
| South Hampton 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 |
$9,109Lowest 37% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,637 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 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 | South Hampton School District | Lyme School District | Kensington 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.