Compare towns
Hanover vs Norwich vs Lyme vs Stratham
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).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
Lyme has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Stratham has the most homeowners (92.6%).
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 | Norwich | Lyme | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,479Highest |
3,640 |
1,710Lowest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Stratham 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% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Stratham 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% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Stratham 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% |
81% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15kLowest 66% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20k 88% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Stratham 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. |
$637,500±$76kLowest 92% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,254±$249 60% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Stratham and Hanover 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. |
$9,781Lowest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Stratham 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% |
2.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 26.7%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 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 | #1 of 70 in VT | — | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Norwich School District | Lyme School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham 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.