Compare towns
Lyme vs South Hampton vs North Hampton vs Newfields
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
North Hampton has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | North Hampton | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
984Lowest |
4,543Highest |
2,023 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
44.1±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
| North Hampton 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% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| 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%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4 NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and North Hampton 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% |
52.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Newfields 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±$15kLowest 35% above NH |
$152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
$146,458±$29k 48% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
| Newfields 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±$64kLowest 60% above NH |
$661,100±$45k 64% above NH |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
| North Hampton 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 5% below NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
$1,805±$106 21% above NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
| South Hampton and Newfields 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 |
$9,109 37% above NH |
$8,529Lowest 28% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and North Hampton 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 | — | — | #12 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | South Hampton School District | North Hampton School District | Newfields 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.