Compare towns
Lee vs South Hampton vs Lyme vs Nottingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
South Hampton has the highest household income ($153k).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Nottingham has the youngest population (median age 38.8).
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 | Lee | South Hampton | Lyme | Nottingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
984Lowest |
1,710 |
5,357Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
38.8±6.7Lowest 10% below 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 | 21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.9%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nottingham and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.4%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% NH: 40.6% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Nottingham and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$122,201±$20kLowest 23% 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 | $480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$457,500±$26kLowest 14% 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 | — | $1,889±$489 27% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$2,068±$1kHighest 39% above NH |
| Nottingham and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661 45% above NH |
$9,109 37% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,319Lowest 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
28 min 6% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | — | — | #15 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | South Hampton School District | Lyme School District | Nottingham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | 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.