Compare towns
Lyme vs Plainfield vs Holderness vs Hampton Falls
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%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% under 18).
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
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 | Plainfield | Holderness | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
2,522Highest |
1,917 |
2,328 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
39.4±7.4 9% below NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Lyme 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Lyme 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% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Holderness and Lyme 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% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.7% NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Plainfield 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 35% above NH |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$107,863±$45kLowest 9% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$363,100±$60kLowest 10% below NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
| Hampton Falls 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 |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
| Holderness and Hampton Falls 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 |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Plainfield 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% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
83.7% NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Hampton Falls 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | Plainfield School District | Holderness School District | Hampton Falls 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.