Compare towns
Lyme vs Windham vs Hampton Falls vs Thetford
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%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k 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 | Windham | Hampton Falls | Thetford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
16,038Highest |
2,328 |
2,813 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2 12% 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thetford and Windham 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. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14k 106% above U.S. |
$88,045±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Windham and Hampton Falls 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. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Hampton Falls and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,852±$475 31% above U.S. |
$1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,948Lowest 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Windham 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Windham 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | — | #40 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lyme School District | Windham School District | Hampton Falls School District | Thetford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.