Compare towns
Dover vs Lyme vs Topsham vs Lebanon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has the youngest population (median age 36.9).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
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 | Lyme | Topsham | Lebanon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
1,710Lowest |
9,706 |
14,999 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
| Lyme and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 17% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 31% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 14% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Lebanon and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 164% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 14% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 11% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Lebanon 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 | — | #66 of 133 in ME | #29 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Lyme School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Lebanon School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | Mt Ararat High School | Lebanon High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | 12.2 |
11.7Lowest |
| 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.