Compare towns
Franconia 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
Franconia has the most affordable homes ($530k median).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
Lyme has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% 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 | Franconia | Hanover | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,060Lowest |
8,479Highest |
1,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
| Franconia and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.2%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 36.6%±6.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±5.4 NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,292±$28kLowest 12% below NH |
$153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% 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 | $530,300±$96kLowest 32% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,281±$278Lowest 14% below NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,451Lowest 12% 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 | 73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
21 minHighest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lafayette Regional School District | — | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.