Compare towns
Lyme vs Hampstead vs Hampton
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 most people working from home (27.2%).
Hampstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Hampton has the most renters (25.5% rent).
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 | Hampstead | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
9,102 |
10,101Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
45.3±6.1Lowest 5% above NH |
51.2±1.7Highest 18% above NH |
| Hampton 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% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead 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 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.9%±3.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton 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% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
44.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Hampstead and 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±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$97,163±$4kLowest about the NH average |
| Lyme and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$521,100±$45kLowest 29% above NH |
$545,300±$63k 35% above NH |
| Lyme and Hampton 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 |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,654±$93Highest 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
$6,872Lowest 3% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±13.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
20.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Hampstead 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 | — | #49 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | Hampstead School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.