Compare towns
Hampton Falls vs Hanover vs Lyme vs Thetford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Lyme has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
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 | Hampton Falls | Hanover | Lyme | Thetford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,328 |
8,479Highest |
1,710Lowest |
2,813 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2 12% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 54.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
68% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$153,281±$26k 90% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$88,045±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $772,600±$76k 132% above U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,852±$475 31% above U.S. |
$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,948Lowest 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.8%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #40 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Hampton Falls School District | — | Lyme School District | Thetford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.