Compare towns
Lebanon vs South Hampton 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
Lebanon has the most affordable homes ($385k median).
South Hampton has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
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 | Lebanon | South Hampton | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,999Highest |
984Lowest |
1,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Lyme and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.5% NH: 40.6% |
52.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Lebanon and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10kLowest about the NH average |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
| South Hampton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
| South Hampton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
| South Hampton and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,149Lowest 22% above NH |
$9,109 37% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Lebanon 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Lebanon School District | South Hampton School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
— | — |
| 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.