Compare towns
South Hampton vs Lyme vs Durham 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).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Amesbury has the oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
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 | Lyme | Durham | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 984Lowest |
1,710 |
15,080 |
17,403Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
43.7±1.7 12% 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%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest 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%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,500±$44kHighest 89% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$103,554±$12kLowest 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. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41kLowest 52% 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±$489Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,683±$115 19% above 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,360Lowest 136% 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% |
66.4%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Durham 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% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | South Hampton School District | Lyme School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Amesbury |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | Amesbury High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3Highest |
10.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.