Compare towns
Lyme vs Rollinsford vs Durham 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%).
Rollinsford has the most affordable homes ($398k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Rollinsford | Durham | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
2,626 |
10,681Highest |
2,328 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.8% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
38.8±5.5 10% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% 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%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Hampton Falls 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% |
19.8%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1% NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$89,500±$26kLowest 10% below NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$398,100±$33kLowest about the NH average |
$498,000±$45k 24% above 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±$130 5% below NH |
$1,809±$394 21% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Rollinsford 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 |
$6,851Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
40%±26.1 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham 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% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
78.2% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Rollinsford 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 | — | #94 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | Rollinsford School District | — | Hampton Falls 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 | 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.