Compare towns
Lyme vs Stratham vs Wilder 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%).
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Stratham | Wilder | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
7,754Highest |
3,087 |
2,328 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% 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% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder 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% |
69.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder 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 66% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
| 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 94% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,852±$475 31% above U.S. |
| 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 221% above U.S. |
$9,781 214% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | — | Hampton Falls 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 |
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.