Compare towns
Lyme vs Kensington vs North Hampton
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).
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
North Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Kensington | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
2,009 |
4,543Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
43.3±5.9Lowest about the NH average |
50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
| North Hampton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and North Hampton 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% |
18.8%±2.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and North 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% |
48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Kensington 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±$15kLowest 35% above NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$146,458±$29k 48% above NH |
| Kensington and North Hampton 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 |
$657,700±$47k 63% above NH |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
| North Hampton and Kensington 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 |
$1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,805±$106 21% above NH |
| Kensington and North Hampton 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 |
$9,637 45% above NH |
$8,529Lowest 28% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Kensington 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% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and North 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 | — | — | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | Kensington School District | North Hampton 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.