Compare towns
South Hampton vs Portsmouth vs Lyme vs Hampton Falls
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%).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k 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 | Portsmouth | Lyme | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 984Lowest |
22,545Highest |
1,710 |
2,328 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
| Hampton Falls 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 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 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%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and South 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 64% above NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
$645,000±$64kLowest 60% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Portsmouth 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 |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
| South Hampton and Portsmouth 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 |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Portsmouth 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 | — | #11 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | South Hampton School District | Portsmouth School District | Lyme School District | Hampton Falls School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— | — |
| 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.