Compare towns
South Hampton vs Lyme vs Kittery 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%).
Kittery has the most affordable homes ($469k median).
Amesbury has the youngest population (median age 43.7).
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 | Kittery | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 984Lowest |
1,710 |
10,473 |
17,403Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Kittery 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% |
14.7%±2.9Lowest 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% |
26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kittery 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% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% 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% |
4.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Kittery and Amesbury 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. |
$93,728±$14kLowest 16% 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. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31kLowest 41% 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 |
$1,716±$224 21% above U.S. |
$1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Kittery 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. |
$4,518Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$7,360 136% 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% |
38.8%±14.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7Highest 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% 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% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Kittery 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 | — | — | #17 of 133 in ME | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | South Hampton School District | Lyme School District | Kittery Public Schools | Amesbury |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Robert W Traip Academy | Amesbury High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9Lowest |
10.9Highest |
| 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.