Compare towns
Hampton vs Portsmouth vs Lyme
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).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Lyme has the most kids (19.5% 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 | Portsmouth | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,426 |
22,545Highest |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 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% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Portsmouth 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 |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39kLowest 37% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
| Portsmouth 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 |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 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% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 3% below NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Portsmouth 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Portsmouth School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Portsmouth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
11.4Highest |
— |
| 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.