Compare towns
Lyme vs Amesbury vs North Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Amesbury has the most affordable homes ($519k median).
North Hampton has the most homeowners (91.3%).
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 | Lyme | Amesbury | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
17,403Highest |
4,543 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3Highest 30% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Amesbury and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Amesbury and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$103,554±$12kLowest 28% above U.S. |
$146,458±$29kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| 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 | $645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$519,300±$32kLowest 56% above U.S. |
$670,400±$61kHighest 102% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
$1,805±$106Highest 28% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,360Lowest 136% above U.S. |
$8,529 173% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #151 of 282 in MA | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | Amesbury | North Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Amesbury High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.