Compare towns
Lyme vs Seabrook vs Hampton 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 highest household income ($134k).
Seabrook has the most affordable homes ($444k median).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Seabrook | Hampton Beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
8,427Highest |
2,605 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-3.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH |
54±1.9 25% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.8%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.5%±5 NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Seabrook 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% |
27.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
34% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lyme and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$84,349±$15k 15% below NH |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$443,500±$40kLowest 10% above NH |
$508,900±$76k 26% above NH |
| Lyme and Hampton Beach 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 |
$1,542±$174Highest 3% above NH |
$1,375±$130Lowest 8% below NH |
| Seabrook and Lyme 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 |
$5,785Lowest 13% below NH |
$6,115 8% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±10Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
68.2% NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
25 minHighest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.5%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Hampton Beach 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 | — | #114 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | Seabrook 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.