Compare towns
Durham vs Hanover vs Lyme vs Nottingham
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 20.8).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Lyme has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Nottingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.3%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Nottingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
11,685 |
1,710Lowest |
5,357 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
38.8±6.7 10% below NH |
| Lyme and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.9%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nottingham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.4%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
40.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$122,201±$20kLowest 23% 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 | $504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$457,500±$26kLowest 14% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$2,068±$1k 39% above NH |
| Hanover and Nottingham 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 |
$7,319Lowest 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±5.8 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | — | #15 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Lyme School District | Nottingham School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Hanover High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.