Compare towns
Lyme vs North Hampton vs Seabrook Beach
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).
North Hampton has the most homeowners (91.3%).
Seabrook Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
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 | North Hampton | Seabrook Beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710 |
4,543Highest |
1,001Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+8.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH |
50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
62±3.8Highest 43% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
5.2%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| 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%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
42.1%±7.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5 NH: 6% |
2.2%±3.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lyme and North Hampton 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 35% above NH |
$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
$93,571±$43kLowest 6% below NH |
| North Hampton and Lyme 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 |
$670,400±$61k 67% above NH |
$920,900±$75kHighest 129% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,805±$106Highest 21% above NH |
$1,725±$575 16% above NH |
| North Hampton and Seabrook Beach 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 |
$8,529Lowest 28% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
90.5%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Seabrook Beach 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% |
2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
39.5%±20Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Seabrook Beach and Lyme 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 | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | North Hampton School District | — |
| High school 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.