Compare towns
South Hampton vs Lyme vs Seabrook vs Nelson
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%).
Seabrook has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Nelson has the most affordable homes ($341k 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 | Seabrook | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 984 |
1,710 |
8,427Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-3.4% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
54±1.9Highest 25% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
| Seabrook and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
14.8%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
31.5%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
| Seabrook 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% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Lyme and Seabrook 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 |
$84,349±$15kLowest 15% below NH |
$99,792±$23k about the NH average |
| 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 |
$443,500±$40k 10% above NH |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% 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 |
$1,542±$174 3% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
| South Hampton and Seabrook 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 |
$5,785 13% below NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±10 NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Seabrook 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% NH: 7.2% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
68.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
10.5%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and Lyme 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 | — | — | #114 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | South Hampton School District | Lyme School District | Seabrook School District | Nelson 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.