Compare towns
Lyme vs Middlesex vs Hampton Falls
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Middlesex has the most affordable homes ($376k median).
Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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 | Middlesex | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
1,943 |
2,328Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
| 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% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6 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% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex 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. |
$109,632±$13kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% 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±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,852±$475Highest 31% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$6,483Lowest 108% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Hampton Falls 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lyme School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Hampton Falls 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 |
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.