Compare towns
Lyme vs Hampton vs Seabrook
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 highest household income ($134k).
Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
Seabrook has the most affordable homes ($444k 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 | Seabrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
16,426Highest |
8,427 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-3.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
54±1.9 25% above NH |
| Hampton and Seabrook 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% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.8%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
31.5%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Seabrook and Hampton 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% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
27.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lyme and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$84,349±$15kLowest 15% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$443,500±$40kLowest 10% above NH |
| Lyme and Hampton 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 |
$1,628±$94Highest 9% above NH |
$1,542±$174 3% above NH |
| Hampton and Seabrook 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 |
$6,813 about the NH average |
$5,785Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±10Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.8% NH: 72.8% |
68.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below NH |
26 minHighest 3% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
10.5%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Hampton 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 | — | #31 of 120 in NH | #114 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Seabrook School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1 |
— |
| 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.