Compare towns
Exeter vs Hampton Falls vs Hanover vs Lyme
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hampton Falls has the most homeowners (86.3%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
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 | Exeter | Hampton Falls | Hanover | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
2,328 |
11,685 |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$166,157±$14k 68% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$772,600±$76k 92% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
| Hanover and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Lowest 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | — | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampton Falls School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 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.