Compare towns
Eliot vs Hanover vs Lebanon vs Lyme
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Lebanon has the most renters (48.8% rent).
Lyme has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
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 | Eliot | Hanover | Lebanon | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146 |
11,685 |
14,999Highest |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
57.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above 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 | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$385,400±$29kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471 38% above U.S. |
$2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132 23% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Hanover and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,149 161% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minHighest 15% below U.S. |
20 min 26% below U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #1 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Lebanon School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | Lebanon High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Lowest |
11.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.