Compare towns
Lyme vs Newton vs South 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 most people working from home (27.2%).
Newton has the most affordable homes ($460k median).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 | Newton | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710 |
4,836Highest |
984Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
47.8±5.7 10% above NH |
45.1±5.3Lowest 4% above NH |
| Lyme and Newton 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% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton 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 NH: 20.1% |
16%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Newton 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 |
$138,487±$29k 40% above NH |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
| South Hampton and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$459,500±$18kLowest 14% above NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
| South Hampton and Lyme 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 |
$1,683±$96 13% above NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
| South Hampton and Newton 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 |
$8,124Lowest 22% above NH |
$9,109 37% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
62%±41.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Newton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Newton 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 | — | #70 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | Sanborn Regional School District | South 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.