Compare towns
Stratham vs Hampton Falls vs Lyme vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
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 | Stratham | Hampton Falls | Lyme | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,754Highest |
2,328 |
1,710Lowest |
5,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below 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 | 23.5%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest 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+ | 69.9% NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$166,157±$14k 68% above NH |
$133,906±$15kLowest 35% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
| Brookline and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$544,400±$38kLowest 35% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$2,500±$1k 68% above NH |
| Stratham and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781Lowest 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% 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 | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6% NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
32 min 21% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | — | — | #23 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Hampton Falls School District | Lyme School District | Brookline 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.