Compare towns
Franconia vs Hanover vs Lyme vs Lincoln
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 oldest population (median age 55.6).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Lincoln has the most affordable homes ($342k 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 | Franconia | Hanover | Lyme | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,060Lowest |
11,685Highest |
1,710 |
1,461 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
46.8±10.1 8% 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% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.4%±5.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Lincoln 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% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
28.3%±7 NH: 20.1% |
| Franconia and Lincoln 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% |
38.6%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% |
1.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $87,292±$28k 12% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$70,625±$54kLowest 29% 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±$96k 32% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$342,000±$38kLowest 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,281±$278 14% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,143±$498Lowest 23% 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 |
$2,984Lowest 55% 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% |
49.7%±26Lowest 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% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
72%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 25% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
23 minHighest 15% 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% |
16.3%±8.1 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 | Lincoln-Woodstock Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | None in town | Lin-Wood Public School (High) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
— | 7.4Lowest |
| 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.