Compare towns
Lyme vs Epping vs Chester 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 the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Chester has the most homeowners (97.7%).
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 | Chester | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
7,430Highest |
5,300 |
2,328 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
| Hampton Falls 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% |
18.7%±4.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Chester and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Hampton Falls 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% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Epping and Chester 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 |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Chester 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 |
$552,300±$42k 37% 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±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,742±$576 17% above 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 |
$6,936Lowest 4% above NH |
$8,464 27% 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% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping 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% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1989 10 yrs newer 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 |
32 min 21% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Lowest 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 | #90 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | Epping School District | Chester 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.