Compare towns
Lyme vs Hampton Falls vs Stratham
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% 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 | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
2,328 |
7,754Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham 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 NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| 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 NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Stratham 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 |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kLowest 60% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Stratham 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 |
$9,781Lowest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham 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 NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Stratham 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 | — | — | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | Hampton Falls School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham 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 |
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.