Compare towns
South Hampton vs Lyme vs Amesbury vs Nelson
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 highest household income ($153k).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Amesbury has the most renters (31.4% rent).
Nelson has the most affordable homes ($341k 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 | Lyme | Amesbury | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 984 |
1,710 |
17,403Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— | -13.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
42.3±11.7Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Lyme and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Nelson and South Hampton 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% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Nelson 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% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest 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. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$103,554±$12k 28% above U.S. |
$99,792±$23kLowest 24% 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. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$519,300±$32k 56% above U.S. |
$340,900±$49kLowest about the U.S. average |
| 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±$489Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
$1,203±$243Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| South Hampton and Amesbury 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,360 136% above U.S. |
$5,575Lowest 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±68.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
24 min 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
31.5%±8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Nelson 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 | — | — | #151 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | South Hampton School District | Lyme School District | Amesbury | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Amesbury High | None in town |
| 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.