Compare towns
South Hampton vs Wolfeboro vs Lyme
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%).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
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 | Wolfeboro | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 984Lowest |
6,571Highest |
1,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3Lowest 4% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
| Wolfeboro 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% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 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% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4% NH: 40.6% |
45%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Lyme and Wolfeboro 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 |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
| 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 |
$546,500±$60kLowest 36% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above 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 |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
| South Hampton and Lyme 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 |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyme and South Hampton 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% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Wolfeboro 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 | — | #46 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | South Hampton School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.