Compare towns
Lyme vs Newfields vs South Hampton 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).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Stratham has the youngest population (median age 41.6).
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 | Newfields | South Hampton | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
2,023 |
984Lowest |
7,754Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
| Lyme and South Hampton 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% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and South 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Stratham 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% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
52.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Stratham 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 |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
| Newfields and South 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 |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
| South Hampton and Stratham 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 |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$1,889±$489 27% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Stratham and South 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,109Lowest 37% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Newfields 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 | Newfields School District | South Hampton School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.