Compare towns
Hanover vs Fairlee 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k 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 | Fairlee | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,685Highest |
1,066Lowest |
1,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 26% below U.S. |
56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
| Fairlee and Lyme 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% |
12.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fairlee and Lyme 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% |
46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 110% above U.S. |
$74,760±$10kLowest 7% 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. |
$274,200±$39kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$645,000±$64k 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 59% above U.S. |
$1,083±$242Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,617Lowest 80% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Hanover 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% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 26% below U.S. |
24 minHighest 8% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9Lowest 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 | — | — |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Rivendell Interstate School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.