Compare towns
Durham vs Hanover vs Lyme vs South Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Lyme has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
South Hampton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Durham | Hanover | Lyme | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,681 |
11,685Highest |
1,710 |
984Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
| Lyme and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
52.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25kLowest 13% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
| Hanover and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45kLowest 24% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$661,100±$45k 64% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,889±$489 27% above NH |
| Hanover and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,109Lowest 37% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | — | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Lyme School District | South Hampton 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.