Compare towns
South Hampton vs Lyme vs Hillsborough
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%).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k 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 | Hillsborough |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 984Lowest |
1,710 |
5,980Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
40.9±4.6Lowest 6% below NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6Lowest 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% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lyme and South Hampton 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 54% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
| 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 64% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
| 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 27% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
| South Hampton and Lyme 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 |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hillsborough 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 NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #97 of 120 in NH |
| School district | South Hampton School District | Lyme School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.