Compare towns
Hanover vs Exeter vs Hooksett vs Lyme
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 youngest population (median age 28.7).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
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 | Exeter | Hooksett | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
16,151Highest |
15,057 |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Lyme and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Hooksett 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% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Exeter 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 NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
| 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 105% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
| Hanover and Exeter 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 |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 27% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
21 min 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hooksett School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.