Compare towns
Exeter vs Hanover vs Lyme vs Orford
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%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Lyme has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
Orford has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Hanover | Lyme | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
11,685 |
1,710 |
1,295Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
0%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
48.9±3.3Highest 13% above NH |
| Orford 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% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Exeter 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% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Orford 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% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
44%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$92,571±$24kLowest 7% below 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 | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$271,900±$25kLowest 32% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,263±$686Lowest 15% 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 | $8,814 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,836Lowest 12% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
37.8%±10.7Lowest 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% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest 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 | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Lyme School District | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Hanover High School | None in town | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
10.7 |
— | 9.5Lowest |
| 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.