Compare towns
Lyme vs Brookline vs Hampton
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
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 | Lyme | Brookline | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
5,736 |
16,426Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% 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 | 19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Lyme 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% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8Highest 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+ | 70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Brookline 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 35% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$544,400±$38kLowest 35% above NH |
$550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
| Lyme and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
| Brookline and Hampton 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,813Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest 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 | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Brookline 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 | — | #23 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | Brookline School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.1 |
| 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.