Compare towns
Lyme vs Epping vs Atkinson 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).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
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 | Epping | Atkinson | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
7,430Highest |
7,267 |
2,328 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
| Atkinson 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% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest 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% |
22.6%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Atkinson 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% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.7% NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
5.8%±4Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Atkinson and Epping 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 |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$146,380±$32k 48% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$436,900±$35kLowest 9% above NH |
$555,200±$65k 38% 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 |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Epping 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 |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$6,918Lowest 4% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Atkinson 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% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Epping 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | Epping School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Hampton Falls School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— | — |
| 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.