Compare towns
Hampton vs Bow vs Lyme vs Hampton Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Bow has the most kids (25% under 18).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k 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 | Bow | Lyme | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
8,335 |
1,710Lowest |
2,328 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
| Hampton and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Bow 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 | $95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$166,157±$14k 68% above NH |
| Bow and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$506,500±$34kLowest 26% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% 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 | $1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Bow 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Bow School District | Lyme School District | Hampton Falls School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Bow High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— | — |
| 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.