Compare towns
Lyme vs Stratham vs Hampstead
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).
Stratham has the highest household income ($152k).
Hampstead has the most affordable homes ($521k 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 | Stratham | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
7,754 |
9,102Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
| Lyme and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Hampstead 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%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Hampstead 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% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Hampstead and Stratham 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 35% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$112,348±$18kLowest 13% above NH |
| Stratham and Lyme 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±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$521,100±$45kLowest 29% above NH |
| Stratham and Lyme 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 |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$8,634Lowest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Lyme 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Lowest 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 | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | None 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.