Compare towns
Lyme vs Bethlehem vs Hancock vs Hampton Falls
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyme has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
Bethlehem has the most affordable homes ($288k median).
Hancock has the oldest population (median age 53.8).
Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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 | Bethlehem | Hancock | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
2,537Highest |
1,791 |
2,328 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH |
50.6±8.5 17% above NH |
53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
| Hancock and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
15.4%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±5.5 NH: 20.1% |
30.2%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hancock and Bethlehem 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 NH: 40.6% |
45.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
53.9% NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
4%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Hancock and Hampton Falls 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 35% above NH |
$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
$95,208±$15k 4% below NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
$436,700±$22k 8% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH |
$1,208±$650 19% below NH |
$1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Lyme 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 50% above NH |
$5,418Lowest 19% below NH |
$6,884 3% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3 NH: 48.2% |
32.4%±55.6 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Bethlehem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.6% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below NH |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem 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 | — | #34 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Contoocook Valley School District | Hampton Falls School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Profile Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.