Compare towns
Dover vs Hanover vs Lyme vs Rollinsford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Lyme has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Rollinsford has the most affordable homes ($398k median).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% 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 | Dover | Hanover | Lyme | Rollinsford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
8,479 |
1,710Lowest |
2,626 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
38.8±5.5 10% below NH |
| Lyme and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$89,500±$26kLowest 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 | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$398,100±$33kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$1,809±$394 21% above NH |
| Hanover and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,851Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
40%±26.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
62.4% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±8.8 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | — | #94 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | — | Lyme School District | Rollinsford School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7 |
— | — | — |
| 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.