Compare towns
South Hampton vs Lyme vs Newfields vs Kensington
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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Kensington has the youngest population (median age 43.3).
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 | Newfields | Kensington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 984Lowest |
1,710 |
2,023Highest |
2,009 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
43.3±5.9Lowest about the NH average |
| 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% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6Lowest 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
48.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Kensington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
$133,906±$15kLowest 35% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$165,083±$18k 67% above NH |
| Newfields and Kensington 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±$64kLowest 60% above NH |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
$657,700±$47k 63% above NH |
| South Hampton and Kensington 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±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$1,813±$627 22% above NH |
| South Hampton and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,109Lowest 37% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,637 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | South Hampton School District | Lyme School District | Newfields School District | Kensington 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 |
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.