Compare towns
South Hampton vs Eliot vs Lyme vs Amesbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Hampton has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Amesbury has the most renters (31.4% rent).
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 | Eliot | Lyme | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 984Lowest |
7,146 |
1,710 |
17,403Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Eliot 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| South Hampton and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Amesbury and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,500±$44kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$103,554±$12k 28% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,100±$45kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62kLowest 50% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$519,300±$32k 56% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,889±$489 34% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
| Eliot and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,109 192% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,360 136% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Eliot 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 | — | #19 of 133 in ME | — | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | South Hampton School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Lyme School District | Amesbury |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Amesbury High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.