Compare towns
Lyme vs Hampton Falls vs Eliot vs Orford
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%).
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Eliot | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
2,328 |
7,146Highest |
1,295Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Lowest 25% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
48.9±3.3 26% above U.S. |
| Eliot 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.2 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% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Orford 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±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$92,571±$24kLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$271,900±$25kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$1,852±$475 31% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,263±$686Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Eliot 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 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$5,836 87% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±10.7 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Hampton Falls 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 | Hampton Falls School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 9.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.