Compare towns
Lyme vs Stratham 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%).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Stratham | Durham | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
7,754 |
15,080Highest |
2,328 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% 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%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham 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% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest 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% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$504,300±$41kLowest 25% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
| Stratham 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 50% above NH |
$9,781Lowest 47% above NH |
$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% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Stratham 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Stratham 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 | — | #43 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Hampton Falls School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.