Compare towns
Hanover vs Exeter vs Windham 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 the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Windham has the most kids (27.4% under 18).
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 | Exeter | Windham | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 11,685 |
16,151Highest |
16,038 |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest 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 |
41.1±2.9 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.7% 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% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
| Windham 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±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$723,300±$50k 80% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
| Hanover and Windham 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 |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814Lowest 32% 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%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Lowest 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% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1996Highest 17 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 |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Windham School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | Exeter High School | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.1 |
12.8Highest |
— |
| 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.