Compare towns
Lyme vs Ogunquit vs North Hampton vs Dorchester
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).
Ogunquit has the most people working from home (43.3%).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k 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 | Ogunquit | North Hampton | Dorchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
1,379 |
4,543Highest |
410Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Lowest 25% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3 30% above U.S. |
56±10.5 44% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Dorchester 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% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±4.4 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%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
39.8%±15.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ogunquit and Dorchester 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% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Ogunquit 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±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kLowest 42% above U.S. |
$146,458±$29kHighest 81% above U.S. |
— |
| 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±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$670,400±$61k 102% above U.S. |
$139,600±$133kLowest 58% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
— | $1,805±$106Highest 28% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$8,529 173% above U.S. |
$3,779Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and North Hampton 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit 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 History | None yet | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.