Compare towns
Danby vs Hanover vs Lyme vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danby has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Lyme has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
Wells has the most affordable homes ($243k median).
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 | Danby | Hanover | Lyme | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,133Lowest |
11,685Highest |
1,710 |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 35% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2 30% above U.S. |
| Danby and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13k 4% below U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Hanover and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41k 18% below U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$243,000±$42kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,313±$282 7% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,308Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Lyme School District | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.