Compare towns
Hampton vs Lyme vs Bow vs Hampton Beach
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Lyme | Bow | Hampton Beach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
1,710Lowest |
8,335 |
2,605 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest 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%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
60.3% NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bow 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 |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$506,500±$34kLowest 26% above NH |
$508,900±$76k 26% 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 |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,375±$130Lowest 8% below NH |
| Hampton and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813 about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,584 44% above NH |
$6,115Lowest 8% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Hampton Beach 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 | Lyme School District | Bow School District | — |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | Bow High School | — |
| 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.