Compare towns
Lyme vs Hampton Falls vs Auburn vs Dorchester
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).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Auburn has the youngest population (median age 44.3).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k 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 | Hampton Falls | Auburn | Dorchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
2,328 |
6,119Highest |
410Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
44.3±5.9Lowest about the NH average |
56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
| Dorchester 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% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Auburn 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% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester 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% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Auburn 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±$15kLowest 35% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$153,253±$6k 55% above NH |
— |
| Hampton Falls and Auburn 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 |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$600,300±$29k 49% above NH |
$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below 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 |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
— |
| Auburn and Hampton Falls 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Auburn 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% NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
40 minHighest 50% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
12.2%±8.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Auburn 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 | — | — | #44 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | Hampton Falls School District | Auburn 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 | 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.