Compare towns
Lyme vs Wolfeboro vs Hampton Beach
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 kids (19.5% under 18).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Wolfeboro | Hampton Beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
6,571Highest |
2,605 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH |
57±1.8 32% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
| Hampton Beach and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Hampton Beach 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% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lyme and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
$508,900±$76kLowest 26% above NH |
| Lyme and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Highest 5% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,375±$130 8% below NH |
| Lyme and Hampton Beach 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 |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$6,115 8% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
25 minHighest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Hampton Beach 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 | — | #46 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.