Compare towns
Lyme vs Dover vs Kennebunk vs Hampton Falls
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).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
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 | Dover | Kennebunk | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
33,364Highest |
11,820 |
2,328 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kennebunk 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
52% U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±1.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dover 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 66% above U.S. |
$94,829±$7kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
| 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±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
$1,852±$475Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Dover 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. |
$8,249 164% above U.S. |
$4,999Lowest 60% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Dover 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% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | #9 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | Dover School District | RSU 21 | Hampton Falls School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Kennebunk High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.7Highest |
11.6Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.