Compare towns
Dover vs Hanover vs Lyme vs White River Junction
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Lyme has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
White River Junction has the most affordable homes ($279k 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 | Dover | Hanover | Lyme | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
11,685 |
1,710Lowest |
3,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9 5% below U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2 13% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% 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 | $436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 164% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 14% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Dover School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Lyme School District | — |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | Hanover High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.