Compare towns
Hampton vs Lyme vs Rye
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 affordable homes ($550k median).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
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 | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
1,710Lowest |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH |
55.1±3 27% above NH |
| Hampton and Rye 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% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Rye 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%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Rye 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% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lyme 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±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
| Rye 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±$39kLowest 37% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
| Rye 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 |
$7,519 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Lyme 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 | — | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Lyme School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | 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 |
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.