Compare towns
Hampton vs Lyme vs Kittery
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Kittery has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Kittery |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
1,710Lowest |
10,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3Lowest 20% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Kittery 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Kittery 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 18% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31kLowest 41% above U.S. |
| 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 15% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,716±$224Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Kittery and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813 118% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Kittery 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 | — | #17 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Lyme School District | Kittery Public Schools |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Highest |
— | 9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.