Compare towns
Lyme vs Hampton Falls vs South Berwick
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
2,328 |
7,670Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| South Berwick 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. |
$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above 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±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,852±$475Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and South Berwick 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. |
$4,956Lowest 59% 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% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Lowest 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 | — | — | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Lyme School District | Hampton Falls School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.0 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.