Compare towns
Lyme vs Stratham vs North Hampton vs Wilmot
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 most kids (23.5% under 18).
North Hampton has the most expensive homes ($670k median).
Wilmot has the most affordable homes ($400k 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 | North Hampton | Wilmot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
7,754Highest |
4,543 |
1,487Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
53±2.4Highest 22% above NH |
| Wilmot and North Hampton 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% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±3.2Lowest 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%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
24.3%±4.6 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% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
58.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
3%±3.4 NH: 6% |
| Stratham 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 35% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$146,458±$29k 48% above NH |
$117,759±$15kLowest 19% above NH |
| Stratham and North 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 60% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$399,600±$43kLowest about the NH average |
| North Hampton and Stratham 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 |
$1,805±$106 21% above NH |
$1,125±$289Lowest 25% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$8,529 28% above NH |
$6,651Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.1%±41.8 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% NH: 7.2% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
2.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
83.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 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 |
25 min 8% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest 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 | — | #43 of 120 in NH | #12 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | North Hampton 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 | 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.