Compare towns
Hanover vs Dummerston vs Lyme vs Durham
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 most expensive homes ($825k median).
Dummerston has the most affordable homes ($335k median).
Lyme has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
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 | Dummerston | Lyme | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
2,090 |
1,710Lowest |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1 26% below U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
| Lyme and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Dummerston 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% |
58.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15k 66% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% 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. |
$335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,392±$126Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 26% below U.S. |
21 minHighest 21% below U.S. |
21 minHighest 21% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest 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 | — | — | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Lyme School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | None in town | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | — | 12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.