Compare towns
Lyme vs South Eliot vs Hampton Falls
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 most people working from home (27.2%).
South Eliot has the most affordable homes ($476k 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 | South Eliot | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
4,203Highest |
2,328 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Lowest 25% above U.S. |
55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3 27% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Hampton Falls 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% |
15.2%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| 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%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| South Eliot 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
49.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hampton Falls 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. |
$99,299±$9kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$475,600±$52kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S. |
$1,852±$475 31% above U.S. |
| South Eliot 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 221% above U.S. |
$4,442Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±29.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Eliot and Lyme 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% |
5.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | Lyme School District | — | Hampton Falls 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 |
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.