Compare towns
Lyme vs Middleton 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).
Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k 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 | Middleton | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
9,816Highest |
2,328 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
43.1±2Lowest 11% 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%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Hampton Falls 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% |
18.1%±2.9Lowest 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% |
41.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middleton 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 66% above U.S. |
$167,402±$29kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14k 106% above U.S. |
| Middleton and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kLowest 94% above U.S. |
$742,700±$48k 123% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Middleton 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 |
$1,407±$284Lowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$8,785Lowest 182% 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% |
25.7%±25.3Lowest 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.7%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. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8 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 | — | #71 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | Middleton | Hampton Falls School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.