Compare towns
South Hampton vs Lyme vs North Hampton 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
North Hampton has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Amesbury has the most affordable homes ($519k 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 | North Hampton | Amesbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 984Lowest |
1,710 |
4,543 |
17,403Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3 16% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3Highest 30% above U.S. |
43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and Lyme 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% |
19.2%±5.4Lowest 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%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and North Hampton 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% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Amesbury and Lyme 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. |
$146,458±$29k 81% above U.S. |
$103,554±$12kLowest 28% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,100±$45k 99% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$670,400±$61kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$519,300±$32kLowest 56% above U.S. |
| North Hampton and South Hampton 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 |
$1,805±$106 28% above U.S. |
$1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
| South Hampton and North Hampton 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. |
$8,529 173% above U.S. |
$7,360Lowest 136% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%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. |
1984Highest 4 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. |
25 min 7% 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% |
25.9%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and North Hampton 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 | — | — | #12 of 120 in NH | #151 of 282 in MA |
| School district | South Hampton School District | Lyme School District | North Hampton 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.