Compare towns
Lyme vs Eliot vs South 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 most people working from home (27.2%).
Eliot has the most affordable homes ($499k median).
South Hampton has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
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 | Eliot | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710 |
7,146Highest |
984Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.1±5.3Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Eliot 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% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Hampton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot 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% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lyme and South Hampton 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. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$152,500±$44kHighest 89% above U.S. |
| South 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. |
$498,900±$62kLowest 50% above U.S. |
$661,100±$45kHighest 99% above U.S. |
| South 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 |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,889±$489 34% above U.S. |
| Eliot and South 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 221% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$9,109 192% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot 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% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Eliot 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 | — | #19 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | South Hampton 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 |
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.