Compare towns
Dublin vs Hanover vs Lyme
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dublin has the most affordable homes ($431k median).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
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 | Dublin | Hanover | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,688Lowest |
11,685Highest |
1,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.3±8.4Highest 14% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
| Dublin and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Dublin and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Dublin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±3.9 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,659±$14kLowest 6% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above 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 | $430,500±$72kLowest 7% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,325±$165Lowest 11% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,165Lowest 22% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±8.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 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 | 9.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest about the NH average |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 22%±10.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest 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 | Contoocook Valley School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.