Compare towns
Hanover vs Cornwall vs Mendon vs Lyme
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 28.7).
Cornwall has the most homeowners (94.3%).
Mendon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Hanover | Cornwall | Mendon | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685Highest |
1,208 |
1,113Lowest |
1,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
50.4±4.6 30% above U.S. |
53.4±10.5Highest 37% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
| Mendon and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
14.6%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.7%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
29%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mendon and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 88.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$114,583±$32k 42% above U.S. |
$100,524±$23kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $824,900±$61kHighest 148% above U.S. |
$458,000±$49k 38% above U.S. |
$357,000±$44kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,125±$206Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,230±$651 13% below U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,726 116% above U.S. |
$5,342Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±65.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
88.6%±42.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mendon and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 26% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 11% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | — | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.