Compare towns
Newfields vs South Hampton vs Stratham vs Lyme
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Stratham has the youngest population (median age 41.6).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Newfields | South Hampton | Stratham | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,023 |
984Lowest |
7,754Highest |
1,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Lyme and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.1% NH: 40.6% |
52.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$133,906±$15kLowest 35% above NH |
| Newfields and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$645,000±$64kLowest 60% above NH |
| South Hampton and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$1,889±$489 27% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
| Stratham and South Hampton 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 |
$9,109Lowest 37% above NH |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 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 | 2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Newfields 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 | Newfields School District | South Hampton School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None 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.