Compare towns
Lyme vs Hampton Falls vs Meredith
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 highest household income ($166k).
Meredith has the most affordable homes ($480k 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 | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
2,328 |
6,758Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
| Meredith 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% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest 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% |
25%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith 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% |
45.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hampton Falls and Lyme 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 |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$480,100±$48kLowest 19% 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 |
$1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
| Hampton Falls and Lyme 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 |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Meredith 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Meredith 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 | — | — | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | Hampton Falls School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| 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.