Compare towns
Hampton vs Lyme vs North Hampton vs Hampstead
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
North Hampton has the most homeowners (91.3%).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
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 | North Hampton | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
1,710Lowest |
4,543 |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
45.3±6.1Lowest 5% above NH |
| Hampton and North 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%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Lyme 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% |
26%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton and Lyme 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% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Hampstead 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±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| North Hampton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$521,100±$45kLowest 29% above NH |
| North Hampton 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 |
$1,805±$106Highest 21% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
| North 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 |
$8,529 28% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 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% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and North 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 | — | #12 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Lyme School District | North Hampton School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | 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 | 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.