Compare towns
Canaan vs Hanover vs Lyme vs Pembroke
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Lyme has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Pembroke has the most kids (24% under 18).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Canaan | Hanover | Lyme | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,811 |
11,685Highest |
1,710Lowest |
7,438 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+1.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
| Lyme and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
32.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
| Hanover and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,218±$354 18% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985Lowest 10% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,589 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.6% NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Hanover 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 | #83 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | — | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Lyme School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Hanover High School | None in town | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
10.7 |
— | 13.1Highest |
| 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.