Compare towns
Hampton vs Hancock vs Lyme
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Lyme has the highest household income ($134k).
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 | Hancock | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
1,791 |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
53.8±4.5 24% above NH |
48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH |
| Hampton and Hancock 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% |
15.4%±2.2 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Hancock 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% |
30.2%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton and Hancock 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% |
53.9% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Hancock and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$95,208±$15kLowest 4% below NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$436,700±$22kLowest 8% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
| Lyme and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94Highest 9% above NH |
$1,208±$650Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
| Hampton and Lyme 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 |
$6,884 3% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
32.4%±55.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 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% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Hampton 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 | — | — |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1 |
— | — |
| 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.