Compare towns
South Hampton vs Durham vs Lyme vs Newington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | South Hampton | Durham | Lyme | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 984 |
15,080Highest |
1,710 |
939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
48.7±10.1Highest 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 | 23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
15.7%±4.9 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+ | 16.5%±1.4 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
28%±11Highest 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+ | 52.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
62.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
$124,056±$21kLowest 25% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$145,833±$46k 47% 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 | $661,100±$45k 64% above NH |
$504,300±$41kLowest 25% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,889±$489 27% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$2,292±$795Highest 54% above 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 | $9,109 37% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
86.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Durham 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | South Hampton School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Lyme School District | Newington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.