Compare towns
Lyme vs South Hampton vs Kittery 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 Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Kittery has the most affordable homes ($469k median).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k 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 | South Hampton | Kittery | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
984Lowest |
10,473Highest |
2,328 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
45.1±5.3Lowest 16% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| South Hampton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kittery 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% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Kittery 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 66% above U.S. |
$152,500±$44k 89% above U.S. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and South Hampton 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. |
$661,100±$45k 99% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31kLowest 41% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and South Hampton 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 |
$1,889±$489Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,852±$475 31% above U.S. |
| South Hampton 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. |
$9,109 192% above U.S. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Kittery 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Kittery 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 | — | — | #17 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | South Hampton School District | Kittery Public Schools | Hampton Falls School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.