Compare towns
Hampton vs Lyme vs Dover vs Hampton
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).
Lyme has the highest household income ($134k).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Dover | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426 |
1,710Lowest |
33,364Highest |
10,101 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
51.2±1.7 18% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Dover 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% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.9%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
44.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Hampton 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±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$97,163±$4k about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$545,300±$63k 35% 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±$94 9% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,654±$93Highest 11% above NH |
| Hampton 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$6,872 3% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1 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% NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 3% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
26 minHighest 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Lyme School District | Dover School District | — |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | Dover Senior High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
— | 12.7Highest |
— |
| 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.