Compare towns
Durham vs Hanover vs Lyme vs Wilder
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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 most kids (19.5% under 18).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
11,685 |
1,710Lowest |
3,087 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
28.7±5.1 26% below U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% 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 | $504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
21 minHighest 21% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Lyme School District | — |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Hanover High School | 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 |
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.