Compare towns
Hancock 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
Hancock has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Lyme has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
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 | Hancock | Hanover | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,791 |
11,685Highest |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
| Hancock and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±2.2 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Hancock and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,208±$15kLowest 4% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% 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 | $436,700±$22kLowest 8% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$650Lowest 19% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,884Lowest 3% 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 | 32.4%±55.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5 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 | Contoocook Valley 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 |
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.