Compare towns
Hanover vs Lyme vs Keene 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).
Lyme has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
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 | Lyme | Keene | Norwich |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,479 |
1,710Lowest |
22,939Highest |
3,640 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Norwich 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% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6 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% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,812Lowest 118% 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% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest 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 | 8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 28% below U.S. |
21 minHighest 21% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.7%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest 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 | — | #81 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Lyme School District | Keene School District | Norwich School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
— |
| 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.