Compare towns

Lyme vs North Hampton vs Hampton Falls vs Thetford

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).
North Hampton has the most homeowners (91.3%).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k 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.

MeasureLymeNorth HamptonHampton FallsThetford
People
Population
1,710Lowest
4,543Highest
2,328
2,813
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+1.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.5%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
48.6±7.8
25% above U.S.
50.5±3.3Highest
30% above U.S.
49.5±7.3
27% above U.S.
43.6±6.2Lowest
12% above U.S.
North Hampton and Hampton Falls 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%
19.2%±5.4
U.S.: 22%
19.1%±5.6
U.S.: 22%
15.4%±4.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
26%±4.9
U.S.: 17.2%
25%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
20.8%±6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
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
U.S.: 35.7%
54.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
68%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.3%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
2.5%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.8%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
6.7%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Thetford 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.
$146,458±$29k
81% above U.S.
$166,157±$14kHighest
106% above U.S.
$88,045±$16kLowest
9% above U.S.
Hampton Falls 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±$64k
94% above U.S.
$670,400±$61k
102% above U.S.
$772,600±$76kHighest
132% above U.S.
$329,500±$96kLowest
about the U.S. average
Hampton Falls and North Hampton 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
$1,805±$106
28% above U.S.
$1,852±$475Highest
31% above U.S.
$1,141±$96Lowest
19% below U.S.
Hampton Falls 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 221% above U.S.
$8,529
173% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$6,948Lowest
123% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.8%±29.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
23.5%±21Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
27.2%±22.7
U.S.: 51.1%
49.7%±30.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Lyme and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4%
U.S.: 12.5%
8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.5%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
91.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
84.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
21% below U.S.
25 min
7% below U.S.
32 minHighest
22% above U.S.
23 min
14% below U.S.
Work from home
27.2%±5.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±6.9
U.S.: 15.1%
21.8%±4.8
U.S.: 15.1%
13.6%±6.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 — #40 of 70 in VT
School district Lyme School District North Hampton School District Hampton Falls School District Thetford 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

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.