Compare towns
Dorchester vs Hanover vs Lyme vs Newington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Lyme has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k 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 | Dorchester | Hanover | Lyme | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 410Lowest |
11,685Highest |
1,710 |
939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
48.7±10.1 12% above NH |
| Dorchester and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.7%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
28%±11 NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
62.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | — | $169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$133,906±$15kLowest 35% above NH |
$145,833±$46k 47% above NH |
| Hanover and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
$824,900±$61k 105% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
| Newington and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $2,253±$217 51% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
| Newington and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,081 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
86.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | — | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Lyme School District | Newington School District |
| High school 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 |
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.