Compare towns
South Hampton vs Eliot vs Lyme vs Dublin
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Dublin has the most affordable homes ($431k 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 | South Hampton | Eliot | Lyme | Dublin |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 984Lowest |
7,146Highest |
1,710 |
1,688 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3Lowest 16% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
49.3±8.4 27% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Dublin 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% |
21.4%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| South Hampton and Dublin 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% |
25%±4.7 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% |
45.8% 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% |
4.2%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Dublin 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. |
$104,659±$14k 30% 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±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$430,500±$72kLowest 29% 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±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,325±$165Lowest 6% below 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. |
$8,165 162% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Lyme 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% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.2% 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. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
23 min 15% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
28 min 4% 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% |
22%±10.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Dublin 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 | — | — |
| School district | South Hampton School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Lyme School District | Contoocook Valley 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 |
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.



