Compare towns
South Hampton vs Lyme vs Newton 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%).
Newton has the most affordable homes ($460k median).
Amesbury has the most renters (31.4% rent).
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 | Newton | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 984Lowest |
1,710 |
4,836 |
17,403Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
47.8±5.7 23% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Newton 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% |
17.1%±4.3Lowest 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% |
16%±3Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8% 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% |
4.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newton 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. |
$138,487±$29k 72% above U.S. |
$103,554±$12kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Newton 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. |
$459,500±$18kLowest 38% 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 |
$1,683±$96 19% above U.S. |
$1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and Newton 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. |
$8,124 160% 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% |
62%±41.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Newton 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% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 7% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Newton 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 | — | — | #70 of 120 in NH | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | South Hampton School District | Lyme School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Amesbury |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Amesbury High |
| 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.