Compare towns
Hanover vs Exeter vs Lyme vs Norwich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Lyme has the most homeowners (80.5%).
Norwich has the most kids (24% 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 | Hanover | Exeter | Lyme | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,479 |
16,151Highest |
1,710Lowest |
3,640 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
81% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Exeter 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. |
$8,814Lowest 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.7%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | — | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Lyme School District | Norwich School District |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.