Compare towns
Portsmouth vs South Hampton vs Lyme vs Rye
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k 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 | Portsmouth | South Hampton | Lyme | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 22,545Highest |
984Lowest |
1,710 |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
| Rye and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 64% NH: 40.6% |
52.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Portsmouth and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
| South Hampton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
$661,100±$45k 64% above NH |
$645,000±$64kLowest 60% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
| South Hampton and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,018 20% above NH |
$9,109 37% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 17% below NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Lyme 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | — | — | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Portsmouth School District | South Hampton School District | Lyme School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
— | — | — |
| 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.