Compare towns
Durham vs Lyme vs Hanover vs Durham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyme has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Durham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.8%).
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 | Lyme | Hanover | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
1,710Lowest |
8,479 |
10,681 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3 52% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
21.8±0.3 50% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
75.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
$112,070±$25kLowest 13% 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 |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$498,000±$45kLowest 24% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+ at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+ at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+ at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+ at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 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 | 15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.4% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
21 minHighest 22% below NH |
19 min 29% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest 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 | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Lyme School District | — | — |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | — | — |
| 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.