Compare towns
Hampton vs Lyme vs Hampton Falls vs Wolfeboro
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 most renters (26.2% rent).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
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 | Hampton Falls | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
1,710Lowest |
2,328 |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Hampton 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% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Hampton Falls 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% |
25%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro 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% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hampton Falls 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 |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$546,500±$60kLowest 36% 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 |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below 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 | $6,813 about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest 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% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Wolfeboro 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 | — | — | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Lyme School District | Hampton Falls School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
— | — | 11.1Highest |
| 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.