Compare towns
Hanover vs Hampton Falls 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
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Lyme has the most affordable homes ($645k 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 | Hanover | Hampton Falls | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,479Highest |
2,328 |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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+ | 89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$133,906±$15kLowest 35% above NH |
| 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 | $842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$772,600±$76k 92% above NH |
$645,000±$64kLowest 60% above NH |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
| 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+ at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+ at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+ at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest 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 | 8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 29% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.7%±6 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8Lowest 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 | — | Hampton Falls School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.