Compare towns
Lyme vs Dorchester vs Newfields 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Newfields has the youngest population (median age 44.1).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
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 | Dorchester | Newfields | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
410Lowest |
2,023 |
2,328Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— | +5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
44.1±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
| Dorchester and Hampton Falls 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% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 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% |
39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester 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% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Newfields 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±$15kLowest 35% above NH |
— | $197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$166,157±$14k 68% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
— | $1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
| Newfields and Hampton Falls 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 |
$3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Newfields 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% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.3% NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
40 minHighest 50% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.2%±8.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Lyme School District | — | Newfields School District | Hampton Falls School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.