Compare towns
Hanover vs Durham vs Hartford 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 most expensive homes ($825k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Lyme has the oldest population (median age 48.6).
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 | Durham | Hartford | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685Highest |
10,681 |
10,736 |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1 26% below U.S. |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Hartford 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% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Hartford 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% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Hartford 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% |
75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$112,070±$25k 39% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below 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. |
$498,000±$45k 50% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,302±$211 8% below U.S. |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,773Lowest 85% 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% |
55.4%±19.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover and Durham 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% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 min 26% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
21 minHighest 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #34 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | — | Hartford School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | — | Hartford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Highest |
— | 9.6Lowest |
— |
| 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.