Compare towns
Stratham vs Lyme vs North Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratham has the most kids (23.5% under 18).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
North Hampton has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
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 | Lyme | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,754Highest |
1,710Lowest |
4,543 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
| North Hampton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
| 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+ | 69.9% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Stratham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$133,906±$15kLowest 35% above NH |
$146,458±$29k 48% above NH |
| Stratham and North Hampton 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 |
$645,000±$64kLowest 60% above NH |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
| North Hampton and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,805±$106 21% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,781 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,529Lowest 28% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.3%±6.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | — | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Lyme School District | North Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.