Compare towns
Newington vs Nelson vs South Hampton 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
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Nelson has the most affordable homes ($341k median).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
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 | Newington | Nelson | South Hampton | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 939 |
648Lowest |
984 |
1,710Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
| Newington and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Newington and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4% NH: 40.6% |
61.1% NH: 40.6% |
52.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Newington and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $145,833±$46k 47% above NH |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
| South Hampton and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
$661,100±$45k 64% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,889±$489 27% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
| Newington and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,081 9% below NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$9,109 37% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Newington and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Newington School District | Nelson School District | South Hampton 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.