Compare towns
Franconia vs Hanover vs Lyme vs Hebron
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 the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Lyme has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
Hebron has the most homeowners (86.8%).
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 | Franconia | Hanover | Lyme | Hebron |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,060 |
11,685Highest |
1,710 |
883Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±7 28% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
57.9±3.6Highest 34% above NH |
| Hebron and Franconia 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% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.2%±3.9Lowest 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%±6.7 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
37.8%±9.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hebron and Franconia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.9% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
47.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±5.4 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.4%±4.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,292±$28kLowest 12% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$91,071±$17k 8% 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 | $530,300±$96kLowest 32% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$589,500±$61k 46% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,281±$278Lowest 14% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,429±$334 4% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,451 12% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$3,603Lowest 46% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
40%±38.3Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
86.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
21 minHighest 22% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.1 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 | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Lyme School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.