Compare towns
Hanover vs Dover vs Lyme vs Hanover
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 highest household income ($170k).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Lyme has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
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 | Dover | Lyme | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
33,364Highest |
1,710Lowest |
8,479 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1 34% below NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 88.2% NH: 40.6% |
52%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$153,281±$26k 55% above NH |
| Hanover and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $824,900±$61k 105% above NH |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
| Hanover and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217 51% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
| Hanover 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 50% above NH |
$8,249Lowest 24% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 27% below NH |
23 minHighest 15% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | — | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Dover School District | Lyme School District | — |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | Dover Senior High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.7Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.